Around the hero everything turns into a tragedy, around the demigod, a satyr-play, and around God--what? perhaps a "world"?

Style ought to prove that one believes in an idea; not only that one thinks it but also feels it.

Men are even lazier than they are timorous, and what they fear most is the troubles with which any unconditional honesty and nudity would burden them.

Art is essentially the affirmation, the blessing, and the deification of existence.

Spirit is the life that itself cuts into life: with its own torment it increases its own knowledge. Did you already know that?

Seducing one's neighbor to a good opinion and then afterwards believing devoutly in this neighbor's opinion--who can match women in this clever ploy?

All idealism is falsehood in the face of necessity.