If a man wishes to become a hero, then the serpent must first become a dragon: otherwise he lacks his proper enemy.

The machine is impersonal, it takes the pride away from a piece of work, the individual merits and defects that go along with allwork that is not done by a machine--which is to say, its little bit of humanity.

Life is fountain of joy; but where the rabble also gather to drink, all wells are poisoned.

One is punished best for one's virtues.

There is nothing more necessary than truth, and in comparison with it everything else has only secondary value. This absolute will to truth: what is it? Is it the will to not allow ourselves to be deceived? Is it the will not to deceive? One does not want to be deceived, under the supposition that it is injurious, dangerous, or fatal to be deceived.

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.

What do we have in common with the rosebud, which trembles because a drop of dew lies on its body?