A kindly gesture bestowed by us on an animal arouses prodigies of understanding and gratitude.

You do not notice changes in what is always before you.

One keeps forgetting old age up to the very brink of the grave.

It's so curious: one can resist tears and 'behave' very well in the hardest hours of grief. But then someone makes you a friendly sign behind a window, or one notices that a flower that was in bud only yesterday has suddenly blossomed, or a letter slips from a drawer... and everything collapses.

You must not pity me because my sixtieth year finds me still astonished. To be astonished is one of the surest ways of not growing old too quickly.

Jealousy is not at all low, but it catches us humbled and bowed down, at first sight.

That lovely voice; how I should weep for joy if I could hear it now!