But what is criticism? Criticism is purely destructive; anyone can destroy, but not everyone can build up.

It must be a fault in me that I am not gravely shocked at the sins of others unless they personally affect me.

Insensibly he formed the most delightful habit in the world, the habit of reading: he did not know that thus he was providing himself with a refuge from all the distress of life; he did not know either that he was creating for himself an unreal world which would make the real world of every day a source of bitter disappointment.

We are like people living in a country whose language they know so little that, with all manner of beautiful and profound things to say, they are condemned to the banalities of the conversation manual. Their brain is seething with ideas, and they can only tell you that the umbrella of the gardener's aunt is in the house.

Only a mediocre person is always at his best.

Self-control might be as passionate and as active as the surrender to passion.

Like all weak men he laid an exaggerated stress on not changing one's mind.