Poetry, it is often said and loudly so, is life's true mirror. But a monkey looking into a work of literature looks in vain for Socrates.

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.

The Germans believe that, no matter where, they can get by on knowledge alone. Art, however, requires skill.

It is fair to despise a cowardly man, but the female sex is strongest when it's weak.

Trousers and the reputation of not being a thief are similar in the following way: There is no particular honor in having them butonce they are lost, everyone thinks they have the right to insult us.

Metaphysics must be based on what exists, for it has the task of explicating it.

I cannot be exacting because I respect myself.