Who then understands the reciprocal flux and reflux of the infinitely great and the infinitely small, the echoing of causes in the abysses of being, and the avalanches of creation?

A language does not become fixed. The human intellect is always on the march, or, if you prefer, in movement, and languages with it.

Change your opinions, keep to your principles; change your leaves, keep intact your roots.

A day will come when markets, open to trade, and minds, open to ideas, will become the sole battlefield.

Poetry contains philosophy as the soul contains reason.

There is something more terrible than a hell of suffering--a hell of boredom.

A benevolent malefactor, merciful, gentle, helpful, clement, a convict, returning good for evil, giving back pardon for hatred, preferring pity to vengeance, preferring to ruin himself rather than to ruin his enemy, saving him who had smitten him, kneeling on the heights of virtue, more nearly akin to an angel than to a man. Javert was constrained to admit to himself that this monster existed. Things could not go on in this manner.