As soon as man does not take his existence for granted, but beholds it as something unfathomably mysterious, thought begins.

Any religion or philosophy which is not based on a respect for life is not a true religion or philosophy.

The demands of Jesus are difficult just because they require us to do something extraordinary. At the same time he asks us to regard these as something usual, ordinary.

All the kindness which a man puts out into the world works on the heart and thoughts of mankind.

Civilization can only revive when there shall come into being in a number of individuals a new tone of mind, independent of the prevalent one among the crowds, and in opposition to it - a tone of mind which will gradually win influence over the collective one, and in the end determine its character. Only an ethical movement can rescue us from barbarism, and the ethical comes into existence only in individuals.

We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.

Not one of us knows what effect his life produces, and what he gives to others; that is hidden from us and must remain so, though we are often allowed to see some little fraction of it, so that we may not lose courage.