God has made the cat to give man the pleasure of caressing the tiger.

I exist," murmurs someone whose name is Everyone. "I'm young and in love; I am old and I want rest; I work, I prosper, I do good business, I have houses to rent, money in State Securities; I am happy, I have wife and children; I like all these things and I want to go on living, so leave me alone."... There are moments when all this casts a deep chill on the large-minded pioneers of the human race.

Whatever causes night in our souls may leave stars. Cimourdain was full of virtues and truth, but they shine out of a dark background.

This book should be read as one would read the book of a dead man.

Society is a republic. When an individual tries to lift themselves above others, they are dragged down by the mass, either by ridicule or slander.

Sacrificing the earth for paradise is giving up the substance for the shadow.

The animal is ignorant of the fact that he knows. The man is aware of the fact that he is ignorant.