The Diabolical sometimes assumes the aspect of the Good, or even embodies itself completely in its form. If this remains concealedfrom me, I am of course defeated, for this Good is more tempting than the genuine Good.

We need the books that affect us like a disaster

I never wish to be easily defined.

The dream reveals the reality which conception lags behind. That is the horror of life-the terror of art.

We live in an age which is so possessed by demons, that soon we shall only be able to do goodness and justice in the deepest secrecy, as if it were a crime.

There was once a community of scoundrels, that is to say, they were not scoundrels, but ordinary people.

You, who can't do anything, think you can bring off something like that? How can you even dare to think about it? If you were capable of it, you certainly wouldn't be in need of it.