For art to exist, for any sort of aesthetic activity to exist, a certain physiological precondition is indispensable: intoxication.

The philosopher believes that the value of his philosophy lies in the whole, in the building: posterity discovers it in the bricks with which he built and which are then often used again for better building: in the fact, that is to say, that building can be destroyed and nonetheless possess value as material.

Whoever is related to me in the height of his aspirations will experience veritable ecstasies of learning; for I come from heights that no bird ever reached in its flight, I know abysses into which no foot ever strayed.

Cynicism is the only form in which base souls approach honesty.

Unresolved dissonances between the characters and dispositions of the parents continue to reverberate in the nature of the child and make up the history of its inner sufferings.

Laughter means: taking a mischievous delight in someone else's uneasiness, but with a good conscience.

Everywhere resoundeth the voices of those who preach death; and the earth is full of those to whom death hath to be preached.