I wrote when I did not know life;now that I know life, I have no more to say.

The well bred contradict other people. the wise contradict themselves.

Ah, on what little things does happiness depend! I have read all that the wise men have written, and all the secrets of philosophy are mine, yet for want of a red rose is my life made wretched.

Now and then it is a joy to have one's table red with wine and roses.

Love will fly if held too lightly Love will die if held too tightly . . .

It is not wise to find symbols in everything that one sees. It makes life too full of terrors.

The world has been made by fools that wise men may live in it.

The birds did not understand a single word of what he was saying, but that made no matter, for they put their heads on one side, and looked wise, which is quite as good as understanding a thing, and very much easier.