So long as the spectator has to figure out the meaning of this or that person, or the presuppositions of this or that conflict of inclinations and purposes, he cannot become completely absorbed in the activities and sufferings of the chief characters or feel breathless pity and fear.

Tolerance is a proof of distrust in one's own ideals.

Many deeds are done so as to forget another deed: there are also opiate activities. I exist so that another will be forgotten.

The living is merely a type of what is dead, and a very rare type.

But the worst enemy you can meet will always be yourself; you lie in wait for yourself in caverns and forests. Lonely one, you are going the way to yourself! And your way goes past yourself, and past your seven devils! You will be a heretic to yourself and witch and soothsayer and fool and doubter and unholy one and villain. You must be ready to burn yourself in your own flame: how could you become new, if you had not first become ashes?

The same passions in man and woman nonetheless differ in tempo; hence man and woman do not cease misunderstanding one another.

Good writers have two things in common: they prefer to be understood rather than admired; and they do not write for knowing and over-acute readers.