The day after his father left, Franz and his mother went into town together, and as they left home Franz noticed that her shoes did not match. He was in a quandary: he wanted to point out the mistake, but was afraid he would hurt her. So, during the two hours they spent walking through the city together he kept his eyes focused on her feet. It was then he had his first inkling of what it means to suffer.

I beg you friend, be happy. I have the vague sense that on your capacity to be happy hangs our only hope.

all languages that derive from Latin form the word compassion by combining the prefix meaning with (com-) and the root meaning suffering

for the first time in his life, sex is located away from all danger, away from conflict and drama, away from persecution, away from any accusation, away from worries; he has nothing to take care of, love is taking care of him, love as he's always wanted it and never had it: love-repose; love-oblivion; love-desertion; love-carefreeness; love-meaningless.

when it's a question of wahre Liebe, true love, the beloved hardly matters.

The past we remember is devoid of time. Impossible to reexperience a love the way we reread a book or resee a film.

I have become so pessimistic that these days I'd even choose the truth over friendship.

Because i've suffered. Because many times in my life i have tried to love with all my heart, and my love has wound up being trampled or betrayed.

Love is easily killed.

He didn't take her breath away. Maybe the opposite. But that was okay-that was really good, actually, to be near someone who filled your lungs with air.

If you want a person's faults, go to those who love him. They will not tell you, but they know.

No one can help another very much in these crises of life; but love and sympathy count for something.