Thou seekest disciples? Then thou seekest ciphers.

In the beautiful, man sets himself up as the standard of perfection; in select cases he worships himself in it. Man believes that the world itself is filled with beauty -he forgets that it is he who has created it. He alone has bestowed beauty upon the world -alas! only a very human, an all too human, beauty.

We have no dreams at all or interesting ones. We should learn to be awake the same way- not at all or in an interesting manner

The happiness of man is: I will. The happiness of woman is: he wills. 'Behold , just now the world ... entire love. And woman must obey and find a depth for her surface. Surface is the disposition of woman: a mobile, stormy film over shallow water. Man's disposition, however, is deep; his river roars in subterranean caves: woman feels his strength but does not comprehend it.

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

One must cease letting oneself be eaten when one tastes best: that is known to those who want to be loved long.

We must learn to love, learn to be kind, and this from the earliest youth; if education or chance give us no opportunity to practice these feelings, our soul becomes dry and unsuited even to understanding the tender inventions of loving people.