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

— Anatole France, The Gods Are Thirsty, 1912, ch. XV

About Anatole France

1844 – 1924

French poet, journalist and novelist, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature (1921).

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

“What we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.”

“If it were absolutely necessary to choose, I would rather be guilty of an immoral act than of a cruel one.”

“Some virtues are only seen in affliction and some in prosperity.”

“Virtue has her heroes too / As well as Fame and Fortune.”

“Prosperity is the best protector of principle.”

“Do not try to live for ever. You will not succeed.”

“Fortune leaves always some door open to come at a remedy.”

“The sun shall never set on so glorious a human achievement!”