The value of a thing sometimes lies not in what one attains with it, but in what one pays for it - what it costs us

It is a self-deception of philosophers and moralists to imagine that they escape decadence by opposing it. That is beyond their will; and, however little they acknowledge it, one later discovers that they were among the most powerful promoters of decadence.

To have to fight the instincts - that is the definition of decadence: as long as life is ascending, happiness equals instinct.

In the mountains of truth, you never climb in vain.

Woman is essentially unpeaceful, like the cat, however well she may have trained herself to present an appearance of peace.

Art is the proper task of life.

Women are constituted in such a way that all truth (regarding men, love, children, society, the purpose of life) disgusts them, and in such a way that they try to revenge themselves on anyone who opens their eyes.