The golden fleece of self-sufficiency guards against cudgel- blows but not against pin-pricks.

The essential thing ‘in heaven and earth’ is that there should be a long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in the long run, something which has made life worth living.

We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.

I am a forest, and a night of dark trees: but he who is not afraid of my darkness, will find banks full of roses under my cypresses.

Of all evil I deem you capable: Therefore I want good from you. Verily, I have often laughed at the weaklings who thought themselves good because they had no claws.

Every deep thinker is more afraid of being understood than of being misunderstood.

What is the task of higher education? To make a man into a machine. What are the means employed? He is taught how to suffer being bored.