Ignorant kindness may have the effect of cruelty; but to be angry with it as if it were direct cruelty would be an ignorant unkindness.
The egoism which enters into our theories does not affect their sincerity; rather, the more our egoism is satisfied, the more robust is our belief.
You should read history and look at ostracism, persecution, martyrdom, and that kind of thing. They always happen to the best men, you know.
A difference of taste in jokes is a great strain on the affections.
Excellence encourages one about life generally; it shows the spiritual wealth of the world.
No compliment can be eloquent, except as an expression of indifference.
In every parting there is an image of death.
You may try but you can never imagine what it is to have a man’s form of genius in you, and to suffer the slavery of being a girl.
Every woman is supposed to have the same set of motives, or else to be a monster.
The intense happiness of our union is derived in a high degree from the perfect freedom with which we each follow and declare our own impressions.
When we get to wishing a great deal for ourselves, whatever we get soon turns into mere limitation and exclusion.
Breed is stronger than pasture.
Falsehood is easy, truth so difficult.
I have the conviction that excessive literary production is a social offence.
In all private quarrels the duller nature is triumphant by reason of dullness.
It always remains true that if we had been greater, circumstance would have been less strong against us.
Mortals are easily tempted to pinch the life out of their neighbour’s buzzing glory, and think that such killing is no murder.
No great deed is done by falterers who ask for certainty.
Our words have wings, but fly not where we would.
Vanity is as ill at ease under indifference as tenderness is under a love which it cannot return.