Those subtleties that train the mind to act outside the earth and without touching the earth.

September 29.

The shining, and not clear and transparent, style of those Gentlemen. It is clear through construction, it is shining through polish. There is all their elegance.

October 3.

He thinks too much about amusing himself.

— and, a novice in his art, dares to take his share of public joy.

— and that little contempt that is always given to whoever does not possess themselves.

October 7.

Balzac. Dazzled by novelty. It was this quality that gave such a fine luster, in his eyes, to d’Ablancourt’s style. Nitidusque juventâ...

Balzac: distinguished for abundance of expression, richness of matter and gravity of words and thoughts.

October 9.

Forms of style favorable to error and folly and contrary to wisdom.

Reliefs and contrasts that arise solely from the distribution of light in discourse, without needing the use of cutouts.

Poetry feigns and consequently it paints. Everything in it is play on the one side, illusion on the other.

Good sense accommodates itself to the world; wisdom tries to conform to heaven.

October 15.

One can therefore say. — There is a true thing to begin with, but here is a truth.

... fit to nourish the muses with both fruits and flowers.

October 16.

In philosophy, Cicero is a kind of moon. His doctrine has a very gentle light, but a borrowed one. This light is wholly Greek; the Roman has softened it, and weakened it.

All those minds are cavernous and dark.