Those who know that they are profound strive for clarity. Those who would like to seem profound to the crowd strive for obscurity. For the crowd believes that if it cannot see to the bottom of something it must be profound. It is so timid and dislikes going into the water.

Little prigs and three-quarter madmen may have the conceit that the laws of nature are constantly broken for their sakes.

I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.

Nothing is beautiful, only man: on this piece of naivete rests all aesthetics, it is the first truth of aesthetics. Let us immediately add its second: nothing is ugly but degenerate man - the domain of aesthetic judgment is therewith defined.

The gilded sheath of pity sometimes covers the dagger of envy.

Loving and perishing: it's been a rhyme all these eternities. The will to love: that is, also being willing to die.

Humility has the toughest hide.