“One is happy as a result of one's own efforts once one knows the necessary ingredients of happiness: simple tastes, a certain degree of courage, self denial to a point, love of work, and above all,...”

“There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.”

“You can bind my body, tie my hands, govern my actions: you are the strongest, and society adds to your power; but with my will, sir, you can do nothing.”

“Immodest creature, you do not want a woman who will accept your faults, you want the one who pretends you are faultless one who will caress the hand that strikes her and kiss the lips that lie to”

“The capacity of passion is both cruel and divine”

“Nature alone can speak to our intelligence an imperishable language, never changing, because it remains within the bounds of eternal truth and of what is absolutely noble and beautiful.”

“The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.”

“Happiness: being able to forget or, to express in a more learned fashion.”

“Forgetfulness is a form of freedom.”

“July 24, 6:03 A.M.The laundry was warm and the rafters were firm, and Michael Holzapfel jumped from the chair as if it were a cliff...Michael Holzapfel knew what he was doing. He killed himself for...”

“A book is a suicide postponed.”

“How much can you really trust the promise of a suicidal father?”