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?

Consciousness is the mere surface of our minds, of which, as of the earth, we do not know the inside, but only the crust.

Style is what gives value and currency to thoughts.

Any book, which is at all important, should be reread immediately

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

That a god like Jehovah should have created this world of misery and woe, out of pure caprice, and because he enjoyed doing it, and should then have clapped his hands in praise of his own work, and declared everything to be very good-that will not do at all!

Men best show their character in trifles, where they are not on their guard. It is in the simplest habits, that we often see the boundless egotism which pays no regard to the feelings of others and denies nothing to itself.