A novel is like a bow, and the violin that produces the sound is the reader's soul.

Napoleon was indeed the man sent by God to help the youth of France! Who is to take his place?

There are as many styles of beauty as there are visions of happiness.

Every great action is extreme when it is undertaken. Only after it has been accomplished does it seem possible to those creatures of more common stuff.

Love is like fever; it comes and goes without the will having any part of the process.

Ah, Sir, a novel is a mirror carried along a high road. At one moment it reflects to your vision the azure skies, at another the mire of the puddles at your feet. And the man who carries this mirror in his pack will be accused by you of being immoral! His mirror shews the mire, and you blame the mirror! Rather blame that high road upon which the puddle lies, still more the inspector of roads who allows the water to gather and the puddle to form.

It is from cowardice and not from want of enlightenment that we do not read in our own hearts.