However much we may feel for the misery of someone close to us, we always act with some artificiality in their presence. We hold-back from telling them everything we think, often because we do not genuinely mean what we say; or because we take a pleasure in their plight, thankful that we are not affected.

The condition that gives birth to a rule is not the same as the condition to which the rule gives birth.

Companions the creator seeks, not corpses, not herds and believers. Fellow creators the creator seeks -- those who write new values on new tablets. Companions the creator seeks, and fellow harvesters; for everything about him is ripe for the harvest.

Against war it may be said that it makes the victor stupid and the vanquished revengeful.

When self control is lacking in small things, the ability to apply it to matters of importance withers away. Every day in which one does not at least deny himself some trifle is badly spent and a threat to the day following.

We should turn our death into a celebration, even if only out of a malice towards life: towards the woman who wants to leave--us!

Great things demand that we either remain silent about them or speak in a great manner: in a great manner, that is-cynically and with innocence.