“A very small matter, when all is said; only a fool would be concerned about it.”

The man of genius is he and he alone who finds such joy in his art that he will work at it come hell or high water.

Love is like fever; it comes and goes without the will having any part of the process.

Never had he found himself so close to those terrible weapons of feminine artillery.

Every true passion thinks only of itself.

I do not feel I have wisdom enough yet to love what is ugly.

A wise woman never yields by appointment. It should always be an unforeseen happiness.

I see but one rule: to be clear. If I am not clear, all my world crumbles to nothing.

When intimacy followed love in Italy there were no longer any vain pretensions between two lovers.

There is no such thing as “natural law”: this expression is nothing but old nonsense… Prior to laws, what is natural is only the strength of the lion, or the need of the creature suffering from hunger or cold, in short, need.

All religions are founded on the fear of the many and the cleverness of the few.

Logic is neither an art nor a science but a dodge.

Only great minds can afford a simple style.

If you think of paying court to the men in power, your eternal ruin is assured.

Napoleon was indeed the man sent by God to help the youth of France! Who is to take his place?

The pleasures of love are always in proportion to our fears.

The first qualification for a historian is to have no ability to invent.

Wearing short skirts while dancing to a manic routine without showing your knickers or looking indecent is a talent, as far as I’m concerned.

The problem is that no ethical system has ever achieved consensus. Ethical systems are completely unlike mathematics or science. This is a source of concern.

Everyone’s a millionaire where promises are concerned.

I think the key is basically just your determination. As far an artist is concerned, it’s just about your drive and your dream.

Anyone who is concerned about his dignity would be well advised to keep away from horses.

Give up defining yourself – to yourself or to others. You won’t die. You will come to life. And don’t be concerned with how others define you. When they define you, they are limiting themselves, so it’s their problem.

Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls.