Quotes from Alexander Dumas

When a man resolves to avenge himself, he should first of all tear out the heart from his breast.

Can we account for instinct?' said Monte Cristo. 'Are there not some places where we seem to breathe sadness? — why, we cannot tell. It is a chain of recollections — an idea which carries you back to other times, to other places — which, very likely, have no connection with the present time and place.

Never trust the enemy that gives you presents

Mankind will not be perfect until it can create and destroy like God. It can already destroy: that's half the battle.

Every man has a devouring passion in his heart, as every fruit has its worm.

Misfortune is needed to bring light to the treasures of the human intellect. Compression is needed to explode gunpowder. Captivity has brought my mental facilities to a focus; and you are well aware that from the collision of clouds electricity is produced - from electricity, lightning, from lightning, illumination.

I intend that my last work shall be a cookbook composed of memories and desires. ---Alexander Dumas, 1869, as quoted in Life Is Meals: A Food Lover's Book of Days by James and Kay Salter

Oh, no; I should find there people who would force me to understand things of which I would prefer to remain ignorant, and who would try to explain to me, in spite of myself, a mystery which even they do not understand.

Joy sometimes has a strange effect: it can oppress us almost as much as sorrow.

But the dreadful thing about wicked ideas is that bit by bit wicked minds can become accustomed to them.

A brave captain of Spahis cannot risk this, even to gratify a pretty woman, which is, in my opinion, one of the most sacred obligations in the world.

Yes; and remember that two-legged crocodiles are more dangerous that the others.

As for his wife, he bowed to her, as some husbands do to their wives, but in a way that bachelors will never comprehend, until a very extensive code is published on conjugal life.

It is our mission to forestall our duties

Count,' said Morrel, 'you are the epitome of all human knowledge, and you seem like a being descended from a wiser and more advanced world than ours.' 'There is something true in what you say,' said the count, with that smile which made him so handsome; 'I have descended from a planet called grief.

Well, we're all mortal...and the old must make way for the young, otherwise there would be no promotion.

I think happiness makes a man even blinder than pride.

Live, for a day will come when you will be happy and bless life.

Dantes. He became Number 34.

Since we are sinking, let us sink. We can die but once.

Besides, it is no reason because you have not seen an execution at Paris, that you should not see one anywhere else; when you travel, it is to see everything. Think what a figure you will make when you are asked, How do they execute at Rome? and you reply, I do not know!

But now to die would be, indeed, to give way to the sarcasm of destiny.

It was a human storm, composed of a thunder of cries, and a hail of sweetmeats, flowers, eggs, oranges, and nosegays.

Indifference towards fortune is the most beautiful beam of the sun which can light one noble sword.