Grief, first take on shape! what is shapeless causes fear and torment but when the enemy materializes, half the victory is won.

From a distance the rushing of the torrent delights and uplifts us, but it rocks us in a flimsy boat, we are overwhelmed by despair. The same applies to danger.

The way in which modern German poetry follows theories reminds me of pupils who, scolded by their teacher for their insubordination, justify themselves by saying that they invented new rules of propriety according to which they are quite well- behaved.

Those who want to row on the ocean of human knowledge do not get far, and the storm drives those out of their course who set sail.

A book is quite a beautiful thing, even more so learning. Together, however, all they amount to is called book-learning.

The main reason why men and women make different aesthetic judgments is the fact that the latter, generally incapable of abstraction, only admire what meets their complete approval.

Only by himself, with one acre and a house, will a dunce be a dunce. Once he manages to gain power, he'll turn into a scoundrel.