I go in solitude, so as not to drink out of everybody's cistern. When I am among the many I live as the many do, and I do not think I really think; after a time it always seems as if they want to banish myself from myself and rob me of my soul.

The author must keep his mouth shut when his work starts to speak.

Many deeds are done so as to forget another deed: there are also opiate activities. I exist so that another will be forgotten.

Every one being allowed to learn to read, ruineth in the long run not only writing but also thinking.

"Ego," sayest thou, and art proud of that word. But the greater thing - in which thou art unwilling to believe - is thy body with its big sagacity; it saith not "ego," but doeth it.

A woman does not want the truth; what is truth to women? From the beginning, nothing has been more alien, repugnant, and hostile to woman than the truth - her great art is the lie, her highest concern is mere appearance and beauty.

In affability there is no hatred of men, but for that very reason there is all too much contempt for men.