Unaware of the absurdity of it, we introduce our own petty household rules into the economy of the universe for which the life of generations, peoples, of entire planets, has no importance in relation to the general development.

I believe in nothing here, except a handful of people, a few ideas, and the fact that one cannot arrest movement.

Life has taught me to think, but thinking has not taught me to live.

Every man who has lived for fifty years has buried a whole world or even two; he has grown used to its disappearance and accustomed to the new scenery of another act: but suddenly the names and faces of a time long dead appear more and more often on his way, calling up series of shades and pictures kept somewhere, "just in case," in the endless catacombs of the memory, making him smile or sigh, and sometimes almost weep.

Compassionate love may be strong. It sobs, it burns, then it wipes away its tears – and it does nothing.

False gods must be repudiated, but that is not all: The reasons for their existence must be sought beneath their masks.

Human development is a form of chronological unfairness, since late-comers are able to profit by the labors of their predecessors without paying the same price.