To become wise you have to want to experience certain experiences, and so to run into their open jaws. This is very dangerous, tobe sure; many a "wise man" has been eaten up in doing so.

We do not place especial value on the possession of a virtue until we notice its total absence in our opponent.

A subject for a great poet would be God's boredom after the seventh day of creation.

You want to make him interested in you? Then pretend to be embarrassed in his presence-

Why does man not see things? He is himself standing in the way: he conceals things.

The strongest knowledge (that of the total freedom of the human will) is nonetheless the poorest in successes: for it always has the strongest opponent, human vanity.

Sharp and mild, dull and keen, well known and strange, dirty and clean, where both the fool and wise are seen: All this am I, have ever been, - in me dove, snake and swine convene!