In all institutions from which the cold wind of open criticism is excluded, an innocent corruption begins to grow like a mushroom - for example, in senates and learned societies

We are praised or blamed, as the one or the other may be expedient, for displaying to advantage our power of discernment.

Whatever harm the evil may do, the harm done by the good is the most harmful harm.

Men have hitherto treated women like birds which have strayed down to them from the heights; as something more delicate, more fragile, more savage, stranger, sweeter, soulful--but as something which has to be caged up so that it shall not fly away.

Men who think deeply appear to be comedians in their dealings with others because they always have to feign superficiality in order to be understood.

In praise there is more obtrusiveness than in blame.

Man's task is simple. He should cease letting his existence be a thoughtless accident.