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

The bad gains respect through imitation, the good loses it especially in art.

It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what others say in a whole book.

A bad conscience is easier to cope with than a bad reputation.

Necessity is an interpretation, not a fact.

In this state one enriches everything out of one's own fullness: whatever one sees, whatever wills is seen swelled, taut, strong, overloaded with strength. A man in this state transforms things until they mirror his power—until they are reflections of his perfection. This having to transform into perfection is—art.

One is most dishonest to one's god: he is not allowed to sin.