How did reason come into the world? As is fitting, in an irrational manner, by accident. One will have to guess at it as at a riddle.

When our brain feels too weak to deal with our opponent's objections, our heart answers by casting suspicion on their underlying motives.

Desire is happiness: satisfaction as happiness is merely the ultimate moment of desire. To be wish and wish alone is happiness, and a new wish over and over again.

The advocates of a criminal are seldom artists enough to turn the beautiful terribleness of the deed to the advantage of the doer.

We grow hostile to many an artist or writer, not because we finally come to see he has deceived us, but because he thought no subtler means were required to ensnare us.

The way to transmute your iron duty into gold in everyone's eyes is this: always deliver more than you promise.

Whoever has witnessed another's ideal becomes his inexorable judge and as it were his evil conscience.