The great wars of the present age are the effects of the study of history.

There are few pains so grievous as to have seen, divined, or experienced how an exceptional man has missed his way and deteriorated

Through searching out origins, one becomes a crab. The historian looks backwards, and finally he also believes backwards.

If a man has character, he has also his typical experience, which always recurs.

What does it matter whether I am shown to be right! I am right too much!--And he who laughs best today will also laugh last.

Hold a true friend with both your hands.

In intercourse with scholars and artists one readily makes mistakes of opposite kinds: in a remarkable scholar one not infrequently finds a mediocre man; and often, even in a mediocre artist, one finds a very remarkable man.