Custom, law bent my first years to the religion of the happy Muslims. I see it too clearly: the care taken of our childhood forms our feelings, our habits, our belief. By the Ganges I would have been a slave of the false gods, a Christian in Paris, a Muslim here.

It is far better to be silent than merely to increase the quantity of bad books.

All styles are good except the tiresome kind.

History is the study of the world's crime

It is with books as with men: a very small number play a great part.

The biggest reward for a thing well done is to have done it.

The Pope is an idol whose hands are tied and whose feet are kissed.