Evil is whatever distracts.

True undoubting is the teacher's part, continual undoubting the part of the pupil.

A belief is like a guillotine, just as heavy, just as light.

Some books seem like a key to unfamiliar rooms in one’s own castle.

The mediation by the serpent was necessary. Evil can seduce man, but cannot become man.

Time is short, my strength is limited, the office is a horror, the apartment is noisy, and if a pleasant, straightforward life is not possible, then one must try to wriggle through by subtle manoeuvres.

The observer of the soul cannot penetrate into the soul, but there doubtless is a margin where he comes into contact with it. Recognition of this contact is the fact that even the soul does not know of itself. Hence it must remain unknown. That would be sad only if there were anything apart from the soul, but there is nothing else.