Great griefs exhaust. They discourage us with life. The man into whom they enter feels something taken from him. In youth, their visit is sad; later on, it is ominous.

...Human thought has no limit. At its risk and peril, it analyzes and dissects its own fascination. We could almost say that, by a sort of splendid reaction, it fascinates nature; the mysterious world surrounding us returns what it receives; it is likely that contemplators are contemplated.

by making himself a priest made himself a demon.

For there are many great deeds done in the small struggles of life.

Friend is sometimes a word devoid of meaning; enemy, never.

In the animal world no creature born to be a dove turns into a scavenger. This happens only among men.

The world of sleep has an existence of its own.