To be alone is the fate of all great minds—a fate deplored at times, but still always chosen as the less grievous of two evils.

A man shows his character just in the way in which he deals with trifles, for then he is off his guard.

The common man is not concerned about the passage of time, the man of talent is driven by it.

The law of simplicity and naïveté applies to all fine art, for it is compatible with what is most sublime.

The scenes of our life are like pictures done in rough mosaic. Looked at close, they produce no effect. There is nothing beautiful to be found in them, unless you stand some distance off.

To feel envy is human, to savour schadenfreude is devilish

No rose without a thorn but many a thorn without a rose.