The thirst for equality can express itself either as a desire to draw everyone down to one's level, or to raise oneself and everyone else up.

But this word will I say to my enemies: What is all manslaughter in comparison with what you have done to me!

The aphorism, the apothegm, in which I am the first among the Germans to be a master, are the forms of “eternity”; it is my ambition to say in ten sentences what everyone else says in a book — what everyone else does not say in a book.

Man is no longer an artist, he has become a work of art.

Let that day be lost to us on which we did not dance once!

Once and for all, there are many things I choose not to know.--Wisdom sets limits even to knowledge.

Alas, where is there still a sea in which one could drown: thus our lament resounds – across shallow swamps.