There have been in this century only one great man and one great thing: Napoleon and liberty. For want of the great man, let us have the great thing.

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

We are on the side of religion as opposed to religions, and we are among those who believe in the wretched inadequacy of sermons and the sublimity of prayer.

The pupil dilates in darkness and in the end finds light, just as the soul dilates in misfortune and in the end finds God.

He did not study God; he was dazzled by him.

It is the end. But of what? The end of France? No. The end of kings? Yes.

That men saw his mask, but the bishop saw his face. That men saw his life, but the bishop saw his conscience.