When I open my eyes in the morning, I am not confronted by a world, but by a million possible worlds.

Man is brilliant at solving problems; but solving them only makes him the victim of his own childishness and laziness. It is this recognition that has made almost every major philosopher in history a pessimist.

I've always believed that a writer has got to remain an outsider.

If you asked me what is the basis of all my work, it's the feeling there's something basically wrong with human beings.

Life itself is an exile. The way home is not the way back.

The "passion for incredulity" can produce as much self-deception as the uncritical will to believe.

The self-surmounter can never put up with the man who has ceased to be dissatisfied with himself.