Anatole France

Human affairs inspire in noble hearts only two feelings-admiration or pity.

Awaken people's curiosity. It is enough to open minds, do not overload them. Put there just a spark.

In its majestic equality, the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread.

Justice is the means by which established injustices are sanctioned

There is a certain impertinence in allowing oneself to be burned for an opinion.

Lovers who love truly do not write down their happiness.

A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance.

To die for an idea is to set a rather high price upon conjecture.

Do not try to satisfy your vanity by teaching a great many things. Awaken people's curiosity. It is enough to open minds; do not overload them. Put there just a spark. If there is some good inflammable stuff, it will catch fire.

You become a good writer just as you become a good joiner: by planing down your sentences.

Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labor by taking up another.

The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.

People who have no weaknesses are terrible; there is no way of taking advantage of them.

The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which will last forever.

There are no bad books any more than there are ugly women.

Those who have given themselves the most concern about the happiness of peoples have made their neighbors very miserable.

Caress your phrase tenderly; it will end by smiling at you.

True education is the ability to discern the difference between what you do know and what you don't.

I cling to my imperfection, as the very essence of my being.

A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance. [The ability to focus on positives and distract your mind from negatives for at least a time is a necessary skill for being happy.]

The dog is a religious animal. In his savage state he worships the moon and the lights that float upon the waters. These are his gods to whom he appeals at night with long-drawn howls.