A refined nature is vexed by knowing that some one owes it thanks, a coarse nature by knowing that it owes thanks to some one.

Of all evil I deem you capable: Therefore I want good from you. Verily, I have often laughed at the weaklings who thought themselves good because they had no claws.

Whoever has provoked men to rage against him has always gained a party in his favor, too.

Giving style” to one’s character - a great and rare art! It is exercised by those who see all the strengths and weaknesses of their own natures and then comprehend them in an artistic plan until everything appears as art and reason and even weakness delights the eye.

We set no special value on the possession of a virtue until we percieve that it is entirely lacking in our adversary.

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

I love him who is of a free spirit and a free heart: thus is his head only the bowels of his heart; his heart, however, causeth his down-going.