In most cases, people, even wicked people, are far more naive and simple-hearted than one generally assumes. And so are we.

Quanto mais gosto da humanidade em geral, menos aprecio as pessoas em particular, como indivíduos.

Besides, nowadays, almost all capable people are terribly afraid of being ridiculous, and are miserable because of it.

It seemed clear to me that life and the world somehow depended upon me now. I may almost say that the world now seemed created for me alone: if I shot myself the world would cease to be at least for me. I say nothing of its being likely that nothing will exist for anyone when I am gone, and that as soon as my consciousness is extinguished the whole world will vanish too and become void like a phantom , as a mere appurtenance of my consciousness, for possibly all this world and all these people are only me myself.

Bad people are to be found everywhere, but even among the worst there may be something good.

You’re a gentleman,” they used to say to him. “You shouldn’t have gone murdering people with a hatchet; that’s no occupation for a gentleman.

Psychology lures even most serious people into romancing, and quite unconsciously.

In such situations, of course, people don't nurse their anger silently, they moan aloud; but these are not frank, straightforward moans, there is a kind of cunning malice in them, and that's the whole point. Those very moans express the sufferer's delectation; if he did not enjoy his moans, he wouldn't be moaning.