A word too much always defeats its purpose.

As a general rule, the longer a man's fame is likely to last, the later it will be in coming; for all excellent products require time for their development.

The majority of men... are not capable of thinking, but only of believing, and... are not accessible to reason, but only to authority.

A book can never be anything more than the impression of its author’s thoughts. The value of these thoughts lies either in the matter about which he has thought, or in the form in which he develops his matter — that is to say, what he has thought about it.

How is it possible that suffering that is neither my own nor of my concern should immediately affect me as though it were my own, and with such force that is moves me to action?

To truth only a brief celebration of victory is allowed between the two long periods during which it is condemned as paradoxical, or disparaged as trivial.

You must treat a work of art like a great man: stand before it and wait patiently till it deigns to speak.