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.

One cannot find peace in work or in pleasure, in the world or in a convent, but only in one's soul.

Men have an extraordinarily erroneous opinion of their position in nature; and the error is ineradicable.

Are you sure you can prevent yourself from falling in love one of these days? Such things do happen, you know, even to the most prudent men.' Simon gave him a strange, one might even have thought a hostile, look. I should tear it out of my heart as I'd wrench out of my mouth a rotten tooth.

A mother only does her children harm if she makes them the only concern of her life.

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

I do not confer praise or blame: I accept. I am the measure of all things. I am the center of the world.