How little can we foresee the consequences either of wise or unwise action, of virtue or of malice. Without this measureless and perpetual uncertainty, the drama of human life would be destroyed.

There is no more dangerous error than that of mistaking the consequence for the cause.

What can everyone do? Praise and blame. This is human virtue, this is human madness.

The uncertainty and importance of the present reduce the past and future to comparative insignificance, and clear the mind of minor worries. And when all is over, memories remain which few men do not hold precious.

Consequence is no coincidence.

Education is the path from cocky ignorance to miserable uncertainty.