A faith is a necessity to a man. Woe to him who believes in nothing.

People weighed down with troubles do not look back; they know only too well that misfortune stalks them.

Do not ask the name of the person who seeks a bed for the night. He who is reluctant to give his name is the one who most needs shelter.

The mother...swinging the children by pulling on a length of string, while at the same time she kept and eye on them with that protective watchfulness, half animal, half angelic, which is the quality of motherhood.

Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.

From the oyster to the eagle, from the swine to the tiger, all animals are to be found in men and each of them exists in some man, sometimes several at the time. Animals are nothing but the portrayal of our virtues and vices made manifest to our eyes, the visible reflections of our souls. God displays them to us to give us food for thought.

The soul helps the body, and at certain moments raises it. It is the only bird that sustains its cage.