All idealists imagine that the causes they serve are fundamentally better than any other causes in the world, and they refuse to believe that if their cause is to flourish at all it requires precisely the same foul-smelling manure that is necessary to all other human undertakings.

The individual has always to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.

Beggars should be entirely abolished! Truly, it is annoying to give to them and annoying not to give to them.

There are two types of genius; one which above all begets and wants to beget, and another which prefers being fertilized and giving birth.

If you look long enough into the void, the void begins to look back through you.

Like the creatures of the forest and the sea, I love To lose myself for a while.

Of what is great one must either be silent or speak with greatness. With greatness--that means cynically and with innocence.