So far no one had had enough courage and intelligence to reveal me to my dear Germans. My problems are new, my psychological horizon frighteningly comprehensive, my language bold and clear; there may well be no books written in German which are richer in ideas and more independent than mine.

What makes us heroic?--Confronting simultaneously our supreme suffering and our supreme hope.

Every profound spirit needs a mask.

Ah, there are so many things betwixt heaven and earth of which only the poets have dreamed!

There are preachers of death: and the earth is full of those to whom desistance from life must be preached.

What can everyone do? Praise and blame. This is human virtue, this is human madness.

The definition of morality: Morality is the idiosyncrasy of decadents having the hidden desire to revenge themselves upon life - and being successful.