Society knows perfectly well how to kill a man and has methods more subtle than death.
Often the best in us springs from the worst in us.
There is no feeling so simple that it is not immediately complicated and distorted by introspection.
The bad novelist constructs his characters; he directs them and makes them speak. The true novelist listens to them and watches them act; he hears their voices even before he knows them.
We call “happiness” a certain set of circumstances that makes joy possible. But we call joy that state of mind and emotions that needs nothing to feel happy.
The only really Christian art is that which, like St. Francis, does not fear being wedded to poverty. This rises far above art-as-ornament.
True intelligence very readily conceives of an intelligence superior to its own; and this is why truly intelligent men are modest.
What I dislike least in my former self are the moments of prayer.
We live counterfeit lives in order to resemble the idea we first had of ourselves.
Our judgements about things vary according to the time left us to live -that we think is left us to live.
The artist who is after success lets himself be influenced by the public. Generally such an artist contributes nothing new, for the public acclaims only what it already knows, what it recognizes.
When you have nothing to say, or to hide, there is no need to be prudent.
Oh, would that my mind could let fall its dead ideas, as the tree does its withered leaves! And without too many regrets, if possible! Those from which the sap has withdrawn. But, good Lord, what beautiful colors!
The miser puts his gold pieces into a coffer; but as soon as the coffer is closed, it is as if it were empty.
Most often it happens that one attributes to others only the feelings of which one is capable oneself.
Laws and rules of conduct are for the state of childhood; education is an emancipation.
One is always wrong to open a conversation with the devil, for, however he goes about it, he always insists upon having the last word.
Other people’s appetites easily appear excessive when one doesn’t share them.
I believe that in every circumstance I have been able to see rather clearly the most advantageous course I could follow, which is very rarely the one I did follow.
Atheism. There is not a single exalting and emancipating influence that does not in turn become inhibitory.