“However low he may fall, a man can never deny himself the delight of feeling cleverer, more powerful or even better fed than his companions.”

“If it is true that only misfortune can awaken a man's soul, it is a bitter truth, one that is hard to hear and accept, and it is only natural that many people deny it and say it is better for a man to live on in a trance than to wake up to torture.”

“The illness of a doctor is always worse than the illnesses of his patients.The patients only feel, but the doctor, as well as feeling, has a pretty good idea of the destructive effect of the disease on his constitution.This is a case in which knowledge brings death nearer.”

“What I'd like is to meet a man I could take off my hat to and say: "Thank you for having got born, and the longer you live the better.”

“One word of praise from a woman is dearer to me than a whole ode from a man . .”

“I do not care to see men better off – but better!”

“You must write for children the same way you write for adults, only better.”