Nobody is more inferior than those who insist on being equal.

A nation is a detour of nature to arrive at five or six great men- yes, and then to get around them.

For one thing is needful: that a human being should attain satisfaction with himself, whether it be by means of this or that poetry or art; only then is a human being at all tolerable to behold. Whoever is dissatisfied with himself is constantly ready for revenge, and we others will be his victims, if only by having to endure his ugly sight.

Go up close to your friend, but do not go over to him! We should also respect the enemy in our friend.

A few hours of mountain climbing make a blackguard and a saint two rather similar creatures.

What is bad? All that proceeds from weakness

Men after death ... are understood worse than men of the moment, but heard better.