To understand the essence and workings of insanity, Gallus Vibius strained his mind so that he tore his judgment from its seat and could never get it back again: he could boast he became mad through wisdom.

I speak to the paper, as I speak to the first person I meet.

Let us not be ashamed to speak what we shame not to think.

In marriage, alliances and money rightly weigh at least as much as attractiveness and beauty.

Certainly man is a remarkably vain, variable, and elusive subject.10 It is hard to base any constant, uniform judgment upon him.

Obsession is the wellspring of genius and madness.

It is as though our very touch bore infection: things which in themselves are good and beautiful are corrupted by our handling of them.