This is the fundamental idea of culture, insofar as it sets but one task for each of us: to further the production of the philosopher, of the artist, and of the saint within us and outside us, and thereby to work at the consummation of nature.

To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.

The advantage of a bad memory is that one enjoys several times the same good things for the first time.

When gods die, they always die many sorts of death.

Some men have sighed over the abduction of their wives, but many more have sighed because no one wanted to abduct theirs.

When an idea is just rising on the horizon, the soul's temperature with respect to it is usually very cold. Only gradually does the idea develop its warmth, and it is hottest (which is to say, exerting its greatest influence) when belief in the idea is already once again in decline.

Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself is offensive.