The hour-hand of life.

Examine the life of the best and most productive men and nations, and ask yourselves whether a tree which is to grow proudly skywards can dispense with bad weather and storms. Whether misfortune and opposition, or every kind of hatred, jealousy, stubbornness, distrust, severity, greed, and violence do not belong to the favourable conditions without which a great growth even of virtue is hardly possible?

One should only question gods where none but gods can reply.

Whoever is related to me in the height of his aspirations will experience veritable ecstasies of learning; for I come from heights that no bird ever reached in its flight, I know abysses into which no foot ever strayed.

For our self respect depends upon our ability to make requital, for good or for evil.

Great things demand that we either remain silent about them or speak in a great manner: in a great manner, that is-cynically and with innocence.

All words are prejudices.