So far there has been no philosopher in whose hands philosophy has not grown into an apology for knowledge; on this point, at least, every one is an optimist, that the greatest usefulness must be ascribed to knowledge. They are all tyrannized over by logic, and this is optimism in its essence.

Verily, I do not want to be like the ropemakers: They drag out their threads and always walk backwards.

Prejudice of the learned. - The learned judge correctly that people of all ages have believed they know what is good and evil, praise- and blameworthy. But it is a prejudice of the learned that we now know better than any other age.

Your only problem, perhaps, is that you scream without letting yourself cry.

Few serve truth in truth because only few have the pure will to be just, and of those again very few have the strength to be just.

Our faith in others betrays that we would rather have faith in ourselves. Our longing for a friend is our betrayer. And often with our love we want merely to overcome envy. And often we attack and make ourselves enemies, to conceal that we are vulnerable.

They would have to sing better songs for me to learn to have faith in their Redeemer; and his disciples would have to look more redeemed!