Among human beings there is no greater banality than death. Second in order, because it is possible to die without being born, comes birth, and next comes marriage.

And he who must be a creator in good and evil: verily, he must be an annihilator first and demolish values.

People who have given us their complete confidence believe that they have a right to ours. The inference is false, a gift confers no rights.

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!

If we lacked curiosity, we should do less for the good of our neighbor. But, under the name of duty or pity, curiosity steals into the home of the unhappy and the needy. Perhaps even in the famous mother-love there is a good deal of curiosity.

The bite of conscience, like the bite of a dog into a stone, is a stupidity.

...throw roses into the abyss and say: 'here is my thanks to the monster who didn't succeed in swallowing me alive.