One can acquire everything in solitude except character.

Love of the head has doubtless more intelligence than true love, but it only has moments of enthusiasm. It knows itself too well, it sits in judgement on itself incessantly; far from distracting thought, it is made by sheer force of thought.

An insane self-consciousness made him commit thousands of blunders.

The idea which tyrants find most useful is the idea of God.

The great majority of men, especially in France, both desire and possess a fashionable woman, much in the way one might own a fine horse - as a luxury befitting a young man.

Beauty is nothing other than the promise of happiness.

But if I take this pleasure with so much prudence and circumspection, it ceases to be a pleasure for me. LOPE DE VEGA Immediately.