Many writers are neither spirit nor wine, but rather spirits- of-wine: they can catch fire, and then they give off heat.

Great things demand that we either remain silent about them or speak in a great manner: in a great manner, that is-cynically and with innocence.

All that the world most needs today, is combined in the most seductive manner in his art, — the three great stimulants of exhausted people: brutality, artificiality and innocence (idiocy).

Only individuals have a sense of responsibility.

Our faith in others betrays that we would rather have faith in ourselves. Our longing for a friend is our betrayer. And often with our love we want merely to overcome envy. And often we attack and make ourselves enemies, to conceal that we are vulnerable.

Those who cannot understand how to put their thoughts on ice should not enter into the heat of debate.

To see others suffer does one good, to make others suffer even more: this is a hard saying but an ancient, mighty, human, all-too-human principle [....] Without cruelty there is no festival.