He who cannot command himself should obey. And many can command themselves, but much is still lacking before they can obey themselves.

Iron necessity is a thing which in the course of history men come to see as neither iron nor necessary.

We are, indeed, not among the least contented. You, however, if your belief makes you blessed then appear to be blessed! Your faces have always been more injurious to your belief than our objections have! If these glad tidings of your Bible were written on your faces, you would not need to insist so obstinately on the authority of that book ... As things are, however, all your apologies for Christianity have their roots in your lack of Christianity; with your defense plea you inscribe your own bill of indictment.

He who laughs best today, will also laughs last.

Life is hard to bear: but do not affect to be so delicate! We are all of us fine sumpter asses and assesses.

In solitude the lonely man is eaten up by himself, among crowds by the many.

The empty, the one, the unmoved, the full, satiation, wanting nothing--that would be my evil: in short, dreamless sleep.