The passing moment is all we can be sure of; it is only common sense to extract its utmost value from it.

Remember that it is nothing to do your duty, that is demanded of you and is no more meritorious than to wash your hands when they are dirty; the only thing that counts is the love of duty; when love and duty are one, then grace is in you and you will enjoy a happiness which passes all understanding.

Most people are such fools that it is really no great compliment to say that someone is above the average.

The author always loads his dice, but he must never let the reader see that he has done so, and by the manipulation of his plot, he can engage the reader's attention so that he does not perceive the violence that has been done to him.

It is an illusion that youth is happy, an illusion of those who have lost it.

You're beginning to dislike me, aren't you? Well, dislike me. It doesn't make any difference to me now.

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