One must repay good and ill; but why just to the person who did us good or ill?

Christianity is called the religion of pity.

In the world of high finance the shilling of the idle rich man can buy more than that of the poor, industrious man.

We find nothing easier than being wise, patient, superior. We drip with the oil of forbearance and sympathy, we are absurdly just, we forgive everything. For that very reason we ought to discipline ourselves a little; for that very reason we ought to cultivate a little emotion, a little emotional vice, from time to time. It may be hard for us; and among ourselves we may perhaps laugh at the appearance we thus present. But what of that! We no longer have any other mode of self-overcoming available to us: this is our asceticism, our penance.

From passions grow opinions; intellectual laziness lets these harden into convictions.

It is not conflict of opinions that has made history so violent but conflict of belief in opinions, that is to say conflict of convictions.

The Refinement of Shame. People are not ashamed to think something foul, but they are ashamed when they think these foul thoughts are attributed to them.