Whoever, at any time, has undertaken to build a new heaven has found the strength for it in his own hell.

For both parties in a controversy, the most disagreeable way of retaliating is to be vexed and silent; for the aggressor usually regards the silence as a sign of contempt.

Even the bravest only rarely have courage for what they really know.

With one more talent one frequently stands with greater instability than with one less, as a table stands better on three legs than on four.

It takes just such painful and terrible things to occur for the great emancipation to take place.

The good displeases us when we are not up to it.

As soon as we climb higher than those who had at one time admired us, we appear to them as though we have sunken and fallen down:for, in any event, they had at one time supposed that they were with us (even if it were through us) on the heights.