Quotes from Alexandre Dumas

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.

Good fortune is the best of all mistresses.

I know the world is a drawing-room, from which we must retire politely and honestly; that is, with a bow, and our debts of honor paid.

God orders a man to do all he can to save his life.

You scholars, you're in communication with the devil.

It is rare that one can see in a little boy the promise of a man, but one can almost always see in a little girl the threat of a woman.

I know what happiness and what despair are, and I never make a jest of such feelings. Take it, then, but in exchange —

Great is the truth, fire can not burn, nor water can drown it!

I was delighted to see you again, and forgot for the moment that all happiness is fleeting.

You are my son Dantés! You are the child of my captivity. My priestly office condemned me to celibacy: God sent you to me both to console the man who could not be a father and the prisoner who could not be free

D'Artagnan, my friend, thou art brave, thou art prudent, thou hast excellent qualities, but- women will destroy thee! -D'Artagnan

Starvation! exclaimed the abbe, springing from his seat. Why, the vilest animals are not suffered to die by such a death as that. The very dogs that wander houseless and homeless in the streets find some pitying hand to cast them a mouthful of bread; and that a man, a Christian, should be allowed to perish of hunger in the midst of other men who call themselves Christians, is too horrible for belief. Oh, it is impossible - utterly impossible!

Without reflecting that this is the only moment in which you can study character, said the count; on the steps of the scaffold death tears off the mask that has been worn through life, and the real visage is disclosed.

What fragile and unknown threads the destinies of nations and the lives of men are suspended.

Life is very tenacious in these lawyers.

Before one is afraid, one sees clearly; while one is afraid, one sees double; and after being afraid, one sees dimly.

There is nothing more galling to angry people than the coolness of those on whom they wish to vent their spleen.

Happiness is egotistical.

I possessed nearly five thousand volumes in my library at Rome; but after reading them over many times, I found out that with a hundred and fifty well-chosen books a man possesses a complete analysis of all human knowledge, or at least all that is either useful or desirable to be acquainted with. – Abbe Faria

Unfortunately in this world of ours, each person views things through a certain medium, which prevents his seeing them in the same light as others…

Death is the only serious preoccupation in life.

Now an enemy is never so near and consequently so threatening, as when he has completely disappeared.

I will follow him to hell, and that is saying not a little, as I believe him entirely capable of the descent.

Women and doors - did I not tell you, friend Porthos, that they are always to be managed by gentleness? - D'Artagnan