Tragedy is dead! Poetry itself died with it! Away, away with you, puny, stunted imitators! Away with you to Hades, and eat your fill of the old masters' crumbs!

Christianity remains to this day the greatest misfortune of humanity.

Happiness is a fata morgana. the only way to not end up unhappy is to not long for happiness.

The beating of drums, which delights young writers who serve a party, sounds to him who does not belong to the party line like a rattling of chains, and excites sympathy rather than admiration.

There is one thing one has to have either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.

Speaking is a beautiful folly; with that man dances over all things.

Unexplained, obscure matters are regarded as more important than explained, clear ones.