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

Marriage is a very good thing, but I think it's a mistake to make a habit out of it.

Through the history of the world there have always been exploiters and exploited. There always will be ... because the great mass of men are made by nature to be slaves, they are unfit to control themselves, and for their own good need masters.

A state of reverie does not avoid reality, it accedes to reality.

When married people don't get on they can separate, but if they're not married it's impossible. It's a tie that only death can sever.

I [Death] was astonished to see him in Baghdad, for I had an appointment with him tonight in Samarra.

I could have forgiven it if he'd fallen desperately in love with someone and gone off with her. I should have thought that natural. I shouldn't really have blamed him. I should have thought he was led away. Men are so weak, and women are so unscrupulous.