“Since the same human mire remains beneath, does not all civilization reduce itself to the superiority of smelling nice and living well?”

If you shut up truth and bury it under the ground, it will but grow, and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow up everything in its way.

Paris flared – Paris, which the divine sun had sown with light, and where in glory waved the great future harvest of Truth and of Justice.

It is not I who am strong, it is reason, it is truth.

When lovers kiss on the cheeks, it is because they are searching, feeling for one another’s lips. Lovers are made by a kiss.

What will be the death of me are buillabaisses, food spiced with pimiento, shellfish, and a load of exquisite rubbish which I eat in disproportionate quantities.

She was cold by nature, self-love predominating over passion; rather than being virtuous, she preferred to have her pleasures all to herself.

The fate of animals is of greater importance to me than the fear of appearing ridiculous; it is indissolubly connected with the fate of men.

The thought is a deed. Of all deeds she fertilizes the world most.

Has science ever retreated? No! It is Catholicism which has always retreated before her, and will always be forced to retreat.

It all seemed a hollow sham now – that strict code, that conscientious virtue that condemned her to the sterile joys of pious women! No, no, she’d had enough of that; she wanted to live!

The past was but the cemetery of our illusions: one simply stubbed one’s toes on the gravestones.

Classical education has deformed everything, and has imposed upon us as geniuses men of correct, facile talent, who follow the beaten track.

An entire lifetime would not be long enough for you to exhaust the glance of the young harvest-girl.

A ruined man fell from her hands like a ripe fruit, to lie rotting on the ground.

It is not necessary that one should humble oneself to deserve assistance, it is sufficient that one should suffer.

Sin ought to be something exquisite, my dear boy.

Look beneath the surface; let not the several quality of a thing nor its worth escape thee.

Look beneath the surface; let not the several quality of a thing nor its worth escape thee.

Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.

Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.

Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.

Do not bite at the bait of pleasure till you know there is no hook beneath it.

Man is by nature a social animal; an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally is either beneath our notice or more than human.

Beauty beyond thought everywhere, beneath, above, made and being made forever.