And I despise your books, I despise wisdom and the blessings of this world. It is all worthless, fleeting, illusory, and deceptive, like a mirage. You may be proud, wise, and fine, but death will wipe you off the face of the earth as though you were no more than mice burrowing under the floor, and your posterity, your history, your immortal geniuses will burn or freeze together with the earthly globe.

If you wish women to love you be original; I know a man who used to wear felt boots summer and winter & women fell in love with him.

And only now, when he was gray-haired, had he fallen in love properly, thoroughly, for the first time in his life.

Do silly things. Foolishness is a great deal more vital and healthy than our straining and striving after a meaningful life.

I don't like being successful; the subjects which sit in my head are annoyed and jealous of what has already been written.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

A man can deceive his fiancee or his mistress as much as he likes and, in the eyes of a woman he loves, an ass may pass for a philosopher. But a daughter is a different matter.