And when your soul becometh great, then doth it become haughty, and in your sublimity there is wickedness.

This is one of the stout-hearted old warriors: he is angry with civilization because he supposes that its aim is to make all goodthings--honors, treasures, beautiful women--accessible even to cowards.

Insanity in individuals is something rare - but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.

It is not in our hands to prevent our birth; but we can correct this mistake - for in some cases it is a mistake.

A nation usually renews its youth on a political sick-bed, and there finds again the spirit which it had gradually lost in seeking and maintaining power.

Nobody can build the bridge for you to walk across the river of life, no one but you yourself alone. There are, to be sure, countless paths and bridges and demi-gods which would carry you across this river; but only at the cost of yourself; you would pawn yourself and lose. There is in the world only one way, on which nobody can go, except you: where does it lead? Do not ask, go along with it.

Great things demand that we either remain silent about them or speak in a great manner: in a great manner, that is-cynically and with innocence.