“Fools -- for their thoughts are not well-considered who suppose that not-being exists or that anything dies and is wholly annihilated.”

“When people concentrate on the idea of beauty, they are, without realizing it, confronted with the darkest thoughts that exist in this world. That, I suppose, is how human beings are made.”

“We suppose the existence of a wise and beneficent Being who presided over the formation of the World, and who is pleased to display his infinite perfections on this illustrious theatre.”

“What relationship could exist between the lives of the fools and healthy rabble who were well, who slept well, who performed the sexual act well, who had never felt the wings of death on their face every moment—what relationship could exist between them and one like me who has arrived at the end of his rope and who knows that he will pass away gradually and tragically?”

“Human nature is so well disposed towards those who are in interesting situations, that a young person, who either marries or dies, is sure of being kindly spoken of.”

“Consider the source… Don't be a fool by listening to a fool.”

“Thought that can merge wholly into feeling, feeling that can merge wholly into thought - these are the artist's highest joy.”

“Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well, including this, I suppose.”

“There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.”

“Does there, I wonder, exist a being who has read all, or approximately all, that the person of average culture is supposed to have read, and that not to have read is a social sin? If such a being does exist, surely he is an old, a very old man.”