Not contentment, but more power; not peace at any price, but war; not virtue, but efficiency (virtue in the Renaissance sense, virtu , virtue free of moral acid).

Pity is the most pleasant feeling in those who have not much pride and have no prospect of great conquests; for them the easy prey - and that is what all who suffer are - is enchanting.

That little hypocrites and half-crazed people dare to imagine that on their account the laws of nature are constantly broken; such an enhancement of every kind of selfishness to infinity, to impudence, cannot be branded with sufficient contempt. And yet Christianity owes its triumph to this pitiable flattery of personal vanity.

It takes just such painful and terrible things to occur for the great emancipation to take place.

Every day I count wasted in which there has been no dancing.

Oh, how much is today hidden by science! Oh, how much it is expected to hide!

Should not the giver be thankful that the receiver received? Is not giving a need? Is not receiving, mercy?