It is essential to persuade the soldier that those he is being urged to massacre are bandits who do not deserve to live; before killing other good, decent fellows like himself, his gun would fall from his hands.

Without mysticism man can achieve nothing great.

Oh, would that my mind could let fall its dead ideas, as the tree does its withered leaves! And without too many regrets, if possible! Those from which the sap has withdrawn. But, good Lord, what beautiful colors!

An opinion, though it is original, does not necessarily differ from the accepted opinion; the important thing is that it does not try to conform to it.

The public always prefers to be reassured. There are those whose job this is. There are only too many.

The pettiness of a mind can be measured by the pettiness of its adoration or its blasphemy.

The want of logic annoys. Too much logic bores. Life eludes logic, and everything that logic alone constructs remains artificial and forced.

Though a revolution may call itself "national," it always marks the victory of a single party.

I should like to enjoy this summer flower by flower, as if it were to be the last one for me.

The most beaten paths are certainly the surest; but do not hope to scare up much game on them.