“The art of reading is in great part that of acquiring a better understanding of life from one's encounter with it in a book. ”

“The reading of a fine book is an uninterrupted dialogue in which the book speaks and our soul replies.”

“Almost all great writers have as their motif, more or less disguised, the passage from childhood to maturity, the clash between the thrill of expectation and the disillusioning knowledge of truth. 'Lost Illusion' is the undisclosed title of every novel.”

“One might have said that reason made him flee from reason.”

“Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year's time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody. No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings.”

“Two human beings anchored to one another are like two ships shaken by waves; their carcases collide with one another and creak.”

“Every ten years you should delete from your mind a few ideas that your experience has proven to be false, dangerous.”