Vanity is the fear of appearing original: it is thus a lack of pride, but not necessarily a lack of originality.

I have found strength where one does not look for it: in simple, mild, and pleasant people, without the least desire to rule -- and, conversely, the desire to rule has often appeared to me a sign of inward weakness: they fear their own slave soul and shroud it in a royal cloak (in the end, they still become the slaves of their followers, their fame, etc.)

The greatest events-they are not our loudest but our stillest hours.

When I seek another word for 'music', I never find any other word than 'Venice'

I want to learn more and more to see as beautiful what is necessary in things; then I shall be one of those who make things beautiful. Amor fati: let that be my love henceforth! I do not want to wage war against what is ugly. I do not want to accuse; I do not even want to accuse those who accuse. Looking away shall be my only negation. And all in all and on the whole: some day I wish to be only a Yes-sayer.

In music the passions enjoy themselves.

Genteel women suppose that those things do not really exist about which it is impossible to talk in polite company.