Curiosity is gluttony. To see is to devour.

The sunshine was delightful, the foliage gently astir, more from the activity of birds than from the breeze. One gallant little bird, doubtless lovelorn, was singing his heart out at the top of a tall tree.

We say that slavery has vanished from European civilization, but this is not true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women and its name is prostitution.

The earlier works of a man of genius are always preferred to the newer ones, in order to prove that he is going down instead of up.

To commit the least possible sin is the law for man. To live without sin is the dream of an angel. Everything terrestrial is subject to sin. Sin is a gravitation.

A creditor is worse than a slave-owner; for the master owns only your person, but a creditor owns your dignity, and can command it.

To be a saint is the exception; to be a just person is the rule. Err, stumble, commit sin, but be one of the just.