"My friend, you must understand that I am a man of letters, and that is why I write."

"The greatest pleasure is to be misunderstood."

"The only way to escape the world is to create your own."

"I have been punished for my thoughts, not for my actions."

"You young maidens, too long constrained by a fanciful Virtue's absurd and dangerous bonds and by those of a disgusting religion, imitate the fiery Eugénie; be as quick as she to destroy, to spurn all …"