A man of genius can hardly be sociable, for what dialogues could indeed be so intelligent and entertaining as his own monologues?

Wealth is like sea-water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame.

Because people have no thoughts to deal in, they deal cards, and try and win one another's money. Idiots!

Poverty and slavery are thus only two forms ofthe same thing, the essence of which is that a man's energies are expended for the most part not on his own behalf but on that of others.

There is something in us that is wiser than our head.

Patriotism is the passion of fools and the most foolish of passions.

Suicide may also be regarded as an experiment - a question which man puts to Nature, trying to force her to answer. The question is this: What change will death produce in a man's existence and in his insight into the nature of things? It is a clumsy experiment to make; for it involves the destruction of the very consciousness which puts the question and awaits the answer.