I intend to leave after my death a large fund for the promotion of the peace idea, but I am skeptical as to its results.

Good wishes alone will not ensure peace.

Kant's style is so heavy that after his pure reason, the reader longs for unreasonableness.

A heart can no more be forced to love than a stomach can be forced to digest food by persuasion.

Perhaps my dynamite plants will put an end to war sooner than your [pacifist] congresses. On the day two army corps can annihilate each other in one second all civilized nations will recoil from war in horror.

I have not the slightest pretension to call my verses poetry; I write now and then for no other purpose than to relieve depression or to improve my English.

It is my express wish that in awarding the [Nobel Prizes] no consideration be given to the nationality of the candidates, but that the most worthy shall receive the prize, whether he be Scandinavian or not.