Novelist

It is the mark of a great man that he puts to flight all ordinary calculations. He is at once sublime and touching, childlike and of the race of giants.

For passion, be it observed, brings insight with it; it can give a sort of intelligence to simpletons, fools, and idiots, especially during youth.

Ideas devour the ages as men are devoured by their passions. When man is cured, human nature will cure itself perhaps.

Those who spend too fast never grow rich.

Vocations which we wanted to pursue, but didn't, bleed, like colors, on the whole of our existence.

Women are tenacious, and all of them should be tenacious of respect; without esteem they cannot exist; esteem is the first demand that they make of love.

Love or hatred must constantly increase between two persons who are always together; every moment fresh reasons are found for loving or hating better.

Excess of joy is harder to bear than any amount of sorrow.

Many men are deeply moved by the mere semblance of suffering in a woman; they take the look of pain for a sign of constancy or of love.

All humanity is passion; without passion, religion, history, novels, art would be ineffectual.