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.

In every party there is one person who, through his dotingly credulous enunciation of party principles, incites the other members to defection.

Love ever your neighbour as yourselves - but first be such as love themselves.

You want to make him interested in you? Then pretend to be embarrassed in his presence-

The destiny of mankind is arranged for happy moments every life has such but not for happy times.

The various languages placed side by side show that with words it is never a question of truth, never a question of adequate expression; otherwise, there would not be so many languages. The 'thing in itself' (which is precisely what the pure truth, apart from any of its consequences, would be) is likewise something quite incomprehensible to the creator of language and something not in the least worth striving for.

The State is the coldest of all cold monsters.