The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed - Nicolas Chamfort

Il était passionné et se croyait sage; j'étais folle, mais je m'en doutais, et, sous ce point de vue, j'étais plus près que lui de la Sagesse.

There is a melancholy that stems from greatness of mind.

To have ties to people who are considerable or even illustrious can no longer be considered a merit for anyone, in a country where a person often pleases others with his vices, and where he is sometimes sought after because of how laughable he is.