Talent works for money and fame; the motive which moves genius to productivity is, on the other hand, less easy to determine.

The general history of art and literature shows that the highest achievements of the human mind are, as a rule, not favourably received at first.

Will power is to the mind like a strong blind man who carries on his shoulders a lame man who can see.

Satisfaction consists in freedom from pain, which is the positive element of life.

If a man sets out to hate all the miserable creatures he meets, he will not have much energy left for anything else; whereas he can despise them, one and all, with the greatest ease.

Every truth passes through 3 stages before it is recognized 1)ridicule 2) opposition 3) accepted as self-evident.

The bad thing about all religions is that, instead of being able to confess their allegorical nature, they have to conceal it.