The almost insoluble task is to let neither the power of others, nor our own powerlessness, stupefy us.

A criminal may improve and become a decent member of society. A foreigner cannot improve. Once a foreigner, always a foreigner. There is no way out for him.

If you wish to avoid foreign collision, you had better abandon the ocean.

France has neither winter, summer, nor morals—apart from these drawbacks it is a fine country.

It’s good to remember that in crises, natural crises, human beings forget for a while their ignorances, their biases, their prejudices. For a little while, neighbors help neighbors and strangers help strangers.

One of the most time-consuming things is to have an enemy.

The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.

Such then is the human state, that to wish greatness for one’s country is to wish harm to one’s neighbors.

Some of us would be greatly astonished to learn the reasons why others respect us.

In settling an island, the first building erected by a Spaniard will be a church, by a Frenchman a fort, by a Dutchman a warehouse, and by an Englishman an alehouse.

Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.

I do desire we may be better strangers.

When you name yourself, you always name another.