Dilettantes appreciate the work, professors the master at the same time.

The ideas of an age are most abundant where they are not crowded by original ideas.

Gratitude is a fickle thing, indeed. A person taking aim presses the weapon to his chest and cheek, but when he hits, he discardsit with indifference.

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.

A cure by regression is homeopathic, like healing the damage done by ministers and ignorance with stupidity and Jesuits.

A flutist who is moved to tears by his own performance will soon make the listeners laugh because of the sounds that he produces.

Perhaps the most embarrassing experience is being caught at a lie by a simpleton who sneers at our asinine cleverness.