The first virtue of a young man today - that is, for the next fifty years perhaps, as long as we live in fear, and religion has regained its powers - is to be incapable of enthusiasm and not to have much in the way of brains.

Politics in a literary work, is like a gun shot in the middle of a concert, something vulgar, and however, something which is impossible to ignore.

Faith, I am no such fool; everyone for himself in this desert of selfishness which is called life.

Pleasure is often spoiled by describing it.

God's only excuse is that he does not exist.

The boredom of married life inevitable destroys love, when love has preceded marriage.

An English traveller relates how he lived upon intimate terms with a tiger; he had reared it and used to play with it, but always kept a loaded pistol on the table.