In his heart every man knows quite well that, being unique, he will be in the world only once and that no imaginable chance will for a second time gather together into a unity so strangely variegated an assortment as he is: he knows it but hides it like a bad conscience.

Early in the morning, at break of day, in all the freshness and dawn of one's strength, to read a book -I call that vicious!

One can promise actions, but not feelings, for the latter are involuntary. He who promises to love forever or hate forever or be forever faithful to someone is promising something that is not in his power.

The most intelligent men, like the strongest, find their happiness where others would find only disaster: in the labyrinth, in being hard with themselves and with others, in effort; their delight is self-mastery; in them asceticism becomes second nature, a necessity, as instinct.

One does not hate so long as one continues to rate low, but only when one has come to rate equal or higher.

Having a talent is not enough: one must also have your permission to have it--right, my friends?

He who humbles himself wants to be exalted.