The suspicious mind believes more than it doubts. It believes in a formidable and ineradicable evil lurking in every person.

The pleasure we derive from doing favors is partly in the feeling it gives us that we are not altogether worthless. It is a pleasant surprise to ourselves.

No matter what our achievements might be, we think well of ourselves only in rare moments. We need people to bear witness against our inner judge, who keeps book on our shortcomings and transgressions. We need people to convince us that we are not as bad as we think we are.

The real Antichrist is he who turns the wine of an original idea into the water of mediocrity.

We are told that talent creates its own opportunities. But it sometimes seems that intense desire creates not only its own opportunities, but its own talents.

It is to escape the responsibility for failure that the weak so eagerly throw themselves into grandiose undertakings.

The greatest weariness comes from work not done.