This is the crux of the moral pessimists: if they really wanted to promote their neighbor's redemption, then they would have to resolve themselves to spoiling existence for him, and thus to being his misfortune; out of pity, they would have to--become evil!

It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.

Nothing is beautiful, only man: on this piece of naivete rests all aesthetics, it is the first truth of aesthetics. Let us immediately add its second: nothing is ugly but degenerate man - the domain of aesthetic judgment is therewith defined.

What do you plan to do in the land of the sleepers? You have been floating in a sea of solitude, and the sea has borne you up. At long last, are you ready for dry land? Are you ready to drag yourself ashore?

Whatever is gold does not glitter. A gentle radiance belongs to the noblest metal.

You who hate the Jews so, why did you adopt their religion?

The Germans are like women, you can scarcely ever fathom their depths - they haven't any.