“Pleasure is found first in anticipation, later in memory.”

“Remember the botched brothel-visit in L’Education sentimentale and remember its lesson. Do not participate: happiness lies in the imagination, not the act. Pleasure is found first in anticipation, later in memory.”

“Thought is the greatest of pleasures —pleasure itself is only imagination—have you ever enjoyed anything more than your dreams?”

“Sometimes, in a daze, they completely dismantled the cadaver, then found themselves hard put to it to fit the pieces together again.”

“One day, I shall explode like an artillery shell and all my bits will be found on the writing table.”

“Quelques détails s'en allèrent, mais le regret lui resta.”

“Los dioses no estaban ya, y Cristo no estaba todavía, y de Cicerón a Marco Aurelio hubo un momento único en que el hombre estuvo solo.”