If you run about the streets pretending to be a madman$$$ then a madman is what you are. If in pretence of being wicked you kill a man$$$ wicked is what you are. A horse that pretends to fleetness must be counted among the fleet; a man who models himself on the saintly Emperor Shun will indeed be among his number. Even a deceitful imitation of wisdom will place you among the wise.

The most pathetic person in the world is some one who has sight but no vision.

I felt once more how simple and frugal a thing is happiness: a glass of wine$$$ a roast chestnut$$$ a wretched little brazier$$$ the sound of the sea. Nothing else.

So few in reality are the true necessities of man.

People have separated from each other with walls of concrete that blocked the roads to connection and love$$$ and Nature has been defeated in the name of development.

My advice is this$$$ do whatever pleases yourself. These things don't matter. What does matter is that if you have anything worthwhile in you$$$ any talent$$$ you should deliver it. Nothing must turn you from that.

Believing in progress does not mean believing that any progress has yet been made.

A non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity.

I am a cage$$$ in search of a bird.

In times when nothing stood<br>but worsened$$$ or grew strange<br>there was one constant good:<br>she did not change.