Just as the largest library, badly arranged, is not so useful as a very moderate one that is well arranged, so the greatest amount of knowledge, if not elaborated by our own thoughts, is worth much less than a far smaller volume that has been abundantly and repeatedly thought over.

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

All wanting comes from need, therefore from lack, therefore from suffering.

What makes people hard-hearted is this, that each man has, or fancies he has, as much as he can bear in his own troubles.

The alchemists in their search for gold discovered many other things of greater value.

Life is a business that does not cover the costs.

To call the world God is not to explain it; it is only to enrich our language with a superfluous synonym.