“The longer and more carefully we look at a funny story, the sadder it becomes.”

“You can't imagine how stupid the whole world has grown nowadays. The things these scribblers write!”

“But wise is the man who disdains no character, but with searching glance explores him to the root and cause of all.”

“His life had already touched upon the age when everything that breathes of impulse shrinks in a man, when a powerful bow has a fainter effect on his soul and no longer twines piercing music around his heart, when the touch of beauty no longer transforms virginal powers into fire and flame, but all the burnt-out feelings become more accessible to the sound of gold, listen more attentively to its alluring music, and little by little allow it imperceptibly to lull them completely. Fame cannot give pleasure to one who did not merit it but stole it; it produces a constant tremor only in one who is worthy of it. And therefore all his feelings and longings turn toward gold.”

“A adormit buștean, cum dorm numai acei fericiți care nu suferă nici de hemoroizi, nici de purici și nici de vreo agerime prea mare a minții.”

“It is no use to blame the looking glass if your face is awry.”

“Man is such a wondrous being that it is never possible to count up all his merits at once. The more you study him, the more new particulars appear, and their description would be endless.”