-
Perfection does not exist; to understand it is the triumph of human intelligence; to expect to possess it is the most dangerous kind of madness.
-
What a frightful weapon is human thought! It is our defense and our safeguard, the most precious gift that God has made us. It is ours and it obeys us; we may launch it forth into space, but, once outside of our feeble brains, it is gone; we can no longer control it.
-
The only truth is love beyond reason.
-
... but one loves, and when one is on the brink of death, one turns around to look backward, and one says to oneself: "I have often suffered, I have sometimes been wrong, but I have loved.
-
The return makes one love the farewell.
-
The most despairing songs are the most beautiful, and I know some immortal ones that are pure tears.
-
Become corrupt, corrupt, and you will cease to suffer!" This has been the cry of all cities to man.
-
Memory is what makes us young or old.
-
If love is a play, this play, as old as the world, fiasco or not, it is, all in all, the least bad thing that has so far been found. The roles are trite, I admit, but if the play had no value the whole universe wouldn’t know it by heart.
-
Disgrace is the synonym of discovery.
-
Reason may cure illusions, but not suffering.
-
The most disagreeable thing that your worst enemy says to your face does not approach what your best friends say behind your back.
-
In love matters; keep your pen from paper.
-
Vanity and dignity are incompatible with each other; vain women are almost sure to be vulnerable.
-
The mouth keeps silent to hear the heart speak.
-
A happy memory is perhaps on this earth truer than happiness itself.
-
In my flowery dreams there's always you. I do not regret it one bit.
-
Take love as a sober man takes wine; do not become a drunkard. If your mistress is sincere and faithful, love her for that; but if she is not, if she is merely young and beautiful, love her for that; if she is agreeable and spirituelle, love her for that; if she is none of these things but merely loves you, love her for that. Love does not come to us every day.
-
Things they don't understand always cause a sensation among the English.
-
Look at the sun! It’s dry, it’s dead, it needs a drink, it wants blood! And I’ll give it blood!