"State," I call it, where they all drink poison, the good and the wicked; "state," where they all lose themselves, the good and the wicked; "state," where they all call their slow suicide-"life."

Heraclitus was an opponent of all democratic parties.

Nothing has been purchased more dearly than the little bit of reason and sense of freedom which now constitutes our pride.

Mediocrity is the most effective mask a superior spirit can wear, because to the great majority, which is to say, to the mediocre,it will not suggest a disguise:--and yet it is precisely for their sake that he puts it on--so as not to arouse them, and, indeed, not infrequently to avoid this out of pity and benevolence.

Men seldom persevere in a vocation unless they believe or can convince themselves that it is fundamentally more important than anyother calling. Women are the same with their lovers.

In magnanimity there is the same amount of egoism as in revenge, but egoism of a different quality.

When our brain feels too weak to deal with our opponent's objections, our heart answers by casting suspicion on their underlying motives.