Our greatest experiences are our quietest moments.

Could truth perhaps be a woman who has reasons for not permitting her reasons to be seen? Could her name perhaps be--to speak Greek--Baubo?... Oh, those Greeks! They understood how to live: to do that it is necessary to stop bravely at the surface, the fold, the skin, to adore the appearance, to believe in forms, in tones, in words, in the whole Olympus of appearance! Those Greeks were superficial--out of profundity!

To think historically is almost the same thing now as if in all ages history had been made according to theory.

One does not want to be deceived, under the supposition that it is injurious, dangerous, or fatal to be deceived.

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.

Solitude makes us tougher towards ourselves and tenderer towards others. In both ways it improves our character.

The complete irresponsibility of man for his actions and his nature is the bitterest drop which he who understands must swallow.