So the thing that bothered me most was that the condemned man had to hope the machine would work the first time.

What made me run away was doubtless not so much the fear of settling down, but of settling down permanently in something ugly.

Freedom is not a gift received from the State or leader, but a possession to be won every day by the effort of each and the union of all.

Rebellion cannot exist without the feeling that somewhere, in some way, you are justified.

For a man who loves power, competition from the gods is annoying. I have done away with that. I have proven to these illusory godsthat a man, if he has the will, can practice, without any apprenticeship, their ridiculous trade.

I had only a little time left and I didn't want to waste it on God.

To lose one's life is no great matter; when the time comes I'll have the courage to lose mine. But what's intolerable is to see one's life being drained of meaning, to be told there's no reason for existing. A man can't live without some reason for living.