Edmond de GoncourtThinkers

Atheism is a belief which, even if wrong, still seems like it would be less of an insult to God than religion itself.

The Author is best when he is in his book like the police are in the city: Everywhere ... and nowhere.

Barbarism is needed every four or five hundred years to bring the world back to life. Otherwise it would die of civilization.

Beauty is what the untrained eyes consider abominable.

The Book is never a masterpiece at first, but rather it becomes one.

Commerce is the art of exploiting the need or desire someone has for something.

Debauchery is an act of despair in the face of infinity.

Genius is the talent of a man who is dead.

God is non-existent, as proved definitely by the atheist who fished up a stone on which was carved: 'I do not exist. Signed: God.

Illness is able to sensitize man for observation, like a photographic plate.