Man is always prey to his truths. Once he has admitted them, he cannot free himself from them.

The reasoning is classic in its clarity. If God does not exist, Kirilov is god. If God does not exist, Kirilov must kill himself. Kirilov must therefore kill himself to become god. That logic is absurd, but it is what is needed.

As a remedy to life in society I would suggest the big city. Nowadays, it is the only desert within our means.

To be famous, in fact, one has only to kill one's landlady.

Beauty, no doubt, does not make revolutions. But a day will come when revolutions will have need of beauty.

I don't want to be a genius-I have enough problems just trying to be a man.

As for Hitler, his professed religion unhesitatingly juxtaposed the God-Providence and Valhalla. Actually his god was an argument at a political meeting and a manner of reaching an impressive climax at the end of speeches.