For the salvation of his soul the Muslim digs a well. It would be a fine thing if each of us were to leave behind a school, or a well, or something of the sort, so that life would not pass by and retreat into eternity without a trace.

When one longs for a drink, it seems as though one could drink a whole ocean-that is faith; but when one begins to drink, one can only drink altogether two glasses-that is science.

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

If many remedies are prescribed for an illness you can be sure it has no cure

If you can't distinguish people from lap-dogs, you shouldn't undertake philanthropic work.

All of life and human relations have become so incomprehensibly complex that, when you think about it, it becomes terrifying and your heart stands still.

In descriptions of nature one must seize on small details, grouping them so that when the reader closes his eyes he gets a picture.