November 19.

And indeed, a “turned-up nose” generally gives a neat appearance. The observation is minute, even grotesque; but it is true.

Perseverance, — which leads to completion.

November 20.

What Cervantes calls the atoms of a book, the atoms of a story. Indeed, in everything that makes up a book, a story, in the facts, in the words and in the sentences, there should be something clear-cut, absolute, indivisible in a way, whether round, square or hooked, finally what is said of atoms, of monads.

November 21.

He is a wind instrument, I am a stringed instrument. He need only blow into himself; I need to tune myself up. My [nerves] must be brought into tune; then I produce a harmony. But I am [like] the harp: I slacken, and consequently I easily sound out of tune. I [must] often be tuned up again, which takes much time.

The organ and Chateaubriand.

December […].

Tales that have passed through the evening gathering are the better for it. That is because nature makes the art there.

December 10.

The ancients were eloquent because they spoke before men who had much taste and no learning. They could hope to make them think as they did and to make them believe and wish what they said. But what can one hope to teach and persuade men who believe that they know everything and that they are at least as learned and as wise as the one speaking to them? It is to armed critics that we speak, and not to enthusiasts. (Peoples “ingenious” and ignorant, but eager to know.) Thus the ignorance of those who listen favors eloquence.

December 12.

Because they know all the words, they believe they know all the truths.

Azaïs. Has seen words in a dream — or heard a few words — without connection — and fills the intervals between them badly. He is Plato’s good fellow Her. But today we know more than this Her.

All the loftiness of the sentiments of the upper classes having descended to the lower, when fortune and education were in agreement... But when they were no longer so... Unless there were great virtue... And this necessary virtue being able to come only from above, the loss of religion brought about that of France.

December 14.

The opinion men hold of divine things is the same neither at all times nor in all places. But in all places and at all times there must be one that is settled, fixed, sacred, unassailable.