Jean Prouvaire was timid only in repose. Once excited, he burst forth, a sort of mirth accentuated his enthusiasm, and he was at once both laughing and lyric.

No religion but blasphemes a little.

To lie a little is not possible: he who lies, lies the whole lie.

The little people must be sacred to the big ones, and it is from the rights of the weak that the duty of the strong is comprised.

There is no more sovereign eloquence than the truth in indignation.

The need of the immaterial is the most deeply rooted of all needs. One must have bread; but before bread, one must have the ideal.

I repeat, whether we be Italians or Frenchmen, misery concerns us all.