The glutton usually realizes that gout is ever ready to pounce, and that alcohol is bad for him. But possible disaster weighs light in the scale against certain pleasure.

Much that for us is fraught with with happiness or misery, remains almost unnoticed by the rest of the world.

This book of mine has not been manufactured: it has been garnered.

Sadness had reigned in undisputed sovereignty over his shadowed childhood.

The wretchedness of ordinary life, endured so gaily when it is part of our normal existence, is made far worse when it comes as something new, and is exaggerated by the working of the imagination.

Forgive me, Bertrand, for having on that day loved in you a beauty in which your self-esteem could take no pride, which could not in any way determine my affection.

When we are nice to others, we generally lose all claim to their respect.

Monsieur Beulier never engaged in thought except to speak the truth, and never spoke except to express his thought.

Even his mother, his own mother, had once accused him of being a snob.

Jean's desires, like those of all men in love, were concentrated on the impossible.

It was not that Madame Santeuil's moral values had altered, but only her view of the moral values of others.

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.

Reading can break us out of the tunnel vision of the narrow specialty and lead us into many intriguing and important avenues of thought.

Modern-day cinema takes the form of a sermon. You don't get to think, you only get to receive information.

No one should die when they're 50.

The book tour has been really interesting and very gratifying. I have not book toured before. I've never had quite as much pleasure, as much satisfaction.

Not liberty but duty is the condition of existence.

Like my mother before me, I have always been a good speller.

It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor.

We meditate so we can see miracles unfolding. Without stillness life is a blur.

I am overwhelmed with things I ought to have written about and never found the proper words.