God has bestowed two gifts on man: hope and ignorance. Ignorance is the better of the two.

She loved with so much passion as she loved with ignorance. She did not know whether it were good or evil, beneficent or dangerous, necessary or accidental, eternal or transitory, permitted or prohibited: she loved.

What a grand thing, to be loved! What a grander thing still, to love!

It is the essence of truth that it is never excessive. Why should it exaggerate? There is that which should be destroyed and that which should be simply illuminated and studied. How great is the force of benevolent and searching examination! We must not resort to the flame where only light is required.

Of all the things that God has made, the human heart is the one which sheds the most light, alas! and the most darkness.

Too much improvisation leaves the mind stupidly void.

All who suffer are full of hatred; all who live drag a remorse: the dead alone have broken their chains.