Everything that is ponderous, vicious and pompously clumsy, all long-winded and wearying kinds of style, are developed in great variety among Germans.

Genteel women suppose that those things do not really exist about which it is impossible to talk in polite company.

Be careful when you fight the monsters, lest you become one.

He who speaks a bit of a foreign language has more delight in it than he who speaks it well; pleasure goes along with superficial knowledge.

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

Whatever may be your desire to accomplish great deeds, the deep silence of pregnancy never comes to you! The event of the day sweeps you along like straws before the wind whilst ye lie under the illusion that ye are chasing the event,-poor fellows! If a man wishes to act the hero on the stage he must not think of forming part of the chorus; he should not even know how the chorus is made up.

The ascetic makes a necessity of virtue.