It is not man who pursues truth, but truth man.
In order to prove a friend to one's guests, frugality must reign in one's meals; and, according to an ancient saying, one must eat to live, not live to eat.
I prefer an interesting vice to a virtue that bores.
You never see the old austerity That was the essence of civility; Young people hereabouts, unbridled, now Just want.
Reason is not what decides love.
When you model yourself on people, you should try to resemble their good sides.
What! Would you make no distinction between hypocrisy and devotion? Would you give them the same names, and respect the mask as you do the face? Would you equate artifice and sincerity? Confound appearance with truth? Regard the phantom as the very person? Value counterfeit as cash?
When I look at life I try to be as agnostic and unmetaphysical as possible. So I have to admit that, most probably, we do not have a fate. But I think that's something that draws us to novels - that the characters always have a fate. Even if it's a terrible fate, at least they have one.
No one should ever compromise the dignity of another human being.
I think calling someone a character is a compliment.
Laughter is an independent, tremendously important, and lurid emotion.