Subordination to morality can be slavish or vain or self- interested or resigned or gloomily enthusiastic or thoughtless or an act of despair, just as subordination to a prince can be: in itself it is nothing moral.

One is punished best for one's virtues.

The arrogance that accompanies merit offends us even more than the arrogance of people who are lacking in merit: since merit itself offends us.

The individual has always to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.

The shortest route is not the most direct one, but rather the one where the most favorable winds swell our sails:Mthat is the lesson that seafarers teach. Not to abide by this lesson is to be obstinate: here, firmness of character is tainted with stupidity.

Thou seekest disciples? Then thou seekest ciphers.

Marriages that made out of love (so-called "love-matches") have error as their father and misery (necessity) as their mother.