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It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.

— Anatole France

Il est dans la nature humaine de penser sagement et d'agir d'une façon absurde.

Original text (French)

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Notes from Wikiquote

Le livre de mon ami (1885): Le livre de Pierre, part I, ch. II: La dame en blanc

More quotes by Anatole France

The gods conform scrupulously to the sentiments of their worshippers: they have reasons for so doing.

The White Stone (1905)

To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

Archangel Michael, and you, Powers, Thrones, and Dominations, swear all of you to be faithful to your God.

The Revolt of the Angels (1914)

Innocence most often is a good fortune and not a virtue.

Irony is the gaiety of reflection and the joy of wisdom.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Anatole France (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.