Some mothers need happy children; others need unhappy ones-otherwise they cannot prove their maternal virtues.

And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.

The love of power is the demon of mankind.

The strength required for the vision of the most powerful reality is not only compatible with the most powerful strength for action, for monstrous action, for crime - it even presupposes it.

Pity aims just as little at the pleasure of others as malice at the pain of others Per-Se.

I love all who are like heavy drops falling one by one out of the dark cloud that lowereth over man: they herald the coming of the lightning, and succumb as heralds.

So far no one had had enough courage and intelligence to reveal me to my dear Germans. My problems are new, my psychological horizon frighteningly comprehensive, my language bold and clear; there may well be no books written in German which are richer in ideas and more independent than mine.