What thwarts us and demands of us the greatest effort is also what can teach us most.

Please do not understand me too quickly.

The reasons that drive me to write are many and the most important are the most secret, I think. Perhaps most of all this: to put something out of death's reach.

Christianity, above all, consoles; but there are naturally happy souls who do not need consolation. Consequently Christianity begins by making such souls unhappy, for otherwise it would have no power over them.

To be sure, theory is useful. But without warmth of heart and without love it bruises the very ones it claims to save.

There is no work of art that is without short cuts.

Only those things are beautiful which are inspired by madness and written by reason.