A man is infinitely more complicated than his thoughts.

What others think of us would be of little moment did it not, when known, so deeply tinge what we think of ourselves.

—Paul Valéry

An artist never really finishes his work, he merely abandons it.

—Paul Valéry

The folly of mistaking a paradox for a discovery, a metaphor for a proof, a torrent of verbiage for a spring of capital truths, and oneself for an oracle, is inborn in us.

—Paul Valéry

Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in affairs which properly concern them.

—Paul Valéry

That which has always been accepted by everyone, everywhere, is almost certain to be false.

—Paul Valéry

When I am attacked by gloomy thoughts, nothing helps me so much as running to my books. They quickly absorb me and banish the clouds from my mind.

—Michel de Montaigne

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts, therefore guard accordingly; and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue, and reasonable nature.

—Marcus Aurelius

If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts; and if any would write in a noble style, let him first possess a noble soul.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

All truly wise thoughts have been thoughts already thousands of times; but to make them truly ours, we must think them over again honestly, till they take root in our personal experience.

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.

—James Lane Allen