Alexandre Dumas

Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded by dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it.

— Alexandre Dumas

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die, Morrel, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life.

— Alexandre Dumas

That is a dream also; only he has remained asleep, while you have awakened; and who knows which of you is the most fortunate?

— Alexandre Dumas

Philosophy cannot be taught; it is the application of the sciences to truth.

— Alexandre Dumas

A person who doubts himself is like a man who would enlist in the ranks of his enemies and bear arms against himself. He makes his failure certain by himself being the first person to be convinced of it.

— Alexandre Dumas

So, preferring death to capture, I accomplished the most astonishing deeds, and which, more then once, showed me that the too great care we take of our bodies is the only obstacle to the sucess of those projects which require rapid decision, and vigorous and determined execution.

— Alexandre Dumas

Sleeping on a plank has one advantage — it encourages early rising.

— Alexandre Dumas

We are never quits with those who oblige us," was Dantes' reply; "for when we do not owe them money, we owe them gratitude.

— Alexandre Dumas

Drunk, if you like; so much the worse for those who fear wine, for it is because they have bad thoughts which they are afraid the liquor will extract from their hearts.

— Alexandre Dumas

Private misfortunes must never induce us to neglect public affairs.

— Alexandre Dumas

How strange," continued the king, with some asperity; "the police think that they have disposed of the whole matter when they say, 'A murder has been committed,' and especially so when they can add, 'And we are on the track of the guilty persons.'

— Alexandre Dumas

There is … a clever maxim which bears upon what I was saying to you some little while ago, and that is, that unless wicked ideas take root in a naturally depraved mind, human nature, in a right] and wholesome state, revolts at crime. Still, from an artificial civilisation have originated wants, vices, and false tastes, which occasionally become so powerful as to stifle within us all good feelings, and ultimately to lead us into guilt and wickedness...

— Alexandre Dumas

And now, farewell to kindness, humanity and gratitude… I have substituted myself for Providence in rewarding the good; may the God of vengeance now yield me His place to punish the wicked.

— Alexandre Dumas

There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more

— Alexandre Dumas

All human wisdom is contained in these words: Wait and hope!

— Alexandre Dumas

Eh, gentlemen, let us reckon upon accidents! Life is a chaplet of little miseries which the philosopher counts with a smile. Be philosophers, as I am, gentlemen; sit down at the table and let us drink. Nothing makes the future look so bright as surveying it through a glass of chambertin.

— Alexandre Dumas

Weep," said Athos, "weep, heart full of love, youth, and life! Alas, would I could weep like you!

— Alexandre Dumas

Learn ever to separate the king and the principle of royalty. The king is but man; royalty is the spirit of God. When you are in doubt as to which you should serve, forsake the material appearance for the invisible principle, for this is everything.

— Alexandre Dumas

Eh! sire, that is the fate of truth; she is a stern companion; she bristles all over with steel; she wounds those whom she attacks, and sometimes him who speaks her.

— Alexandre Dumas

My friend, the pleasures to which we are not accustomed oppress us more than the griefs with which we are familiar.

— Alexandre Dumas

I do not cling to life sufficiently to fear death.

— Alexandre Dumas

How is it that little children are so intelligent and men so stupid? It must be education that does it.

— Alexandre Dumas

All human wisdom is summed up in two words; wait and hope.

— Alexandre Dumas

Look, look,' cried the count, seizing the young man's hands - "look, for on my soul it is curious. Here is a man who had resigned himself to his fate, who was going to the scaffold to die - like a coward, it is true, but he was about to die without resistance. Do you know what gave him strength? - do you know what consoled him? It was, that another partook of his punishment - that another partook of his anguish - that another was to die before him. Lead two sheep to the butcher's, two oxen to the slaughterhouse, and make one of them understand that his companion will not die; the sheep will bleat for pleasure, the ox will bellow with joy. But man - man, who God created in his own image - man, upon whom God has laid his first, his sole commandment, to love his neighbour - man, to whom God has given a voice to express his thoughts - what is his first cry when he hears his fellowman is saved? A blasphemy. Honour to man, this masterpiece of nature, this king of the creation!

— Alexandre Dumas

I began a poem in lines of one syllable. It's rather difficult, but the merit of all things lies in their difficulty. The subject matter is gallant. I'll read you the first canto; it's four hundred verses long and takes one minute.

— Alexandre Dumas