The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary on it.

Because people have no thoughts to deal in, they deal cards, and try and win one another's money. Idiots!

In our monogamous part of the world, to marry means to halve one's rights and double one's duties.

Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every reunion a hint of the resurrection.

With people of limited ability modesty is merely honesty. But with those who possess great talent it is hypocrisy.

Great men are like eagles, and build their nest on some lofty solitude.

Suffering by nature or chance never seems so painful as suffering inflicted on us by the arbitrary will of another.

Treat a work of art like a prince. Let it speak to you first.

Wealth is like sea-water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame.

The discovery of truth is prevented more effectively, not by the false appearance things present and which mislead into error, not directly by weakness of the reasoning powers, but by preconceived opinion, by prejudice.

The more unintelligent a man is, the less mysterious existence seems to him.

There is no doubt that life is given us, not to be enjoyed, but to be overcome; to be got over.

A man can do what he wants, but not want what he wants.

Satisfaction consists in freedom from pain, which is the positive element of life.

Journalists are like dogs, when ever anything moves they begin to bark.

Just remember, once you're over the hill you begin to pick up speed.

It is a clear gain to sacrifice pleasure in order to avoid pain.

Music is the melody whose text is the world.

To buy books would be a good thing if we also could buy the time to read them.

Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in: but as a rule the purchase of books is mistaken for the appropriation of their contents.