“Independence is earned by a few words of cheap confidence”

“A man wants to earn money in order to be happy, and his whole effort and the best of a life are devoted to the earning of that money. Happiness is forgotten; the means are taken for the end.”

“A craving for freedom and independence is generated only in a man still living on hope.”

“Je ne suis pas son confident, je suis son spectateur. C'est plus sage.”

“There are very few large and many poor feelings in everyone's life.”

“Just as there is a moment when the artist must stop, when the sculpture must be left as it is, the painting untouched - just as a determination not to know serves the maker more than all the resources of clairvoyance - so there must be a minimum of ignorance in order to perfect a life in happiness. Those who lack such a thing must set about acquiring it: unintelligence must be earned.”

“One plays at being immortal and after a few weeks one doesn't even know whether or not one can hang on till the next day.”