There is one thing one has to have either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.

It is neither the best nor the worst things in a book that defy translation.

Not to be cowardly when it comes to our own actions! Not to leave them in the lurch!--The sting of conscience is indecent.

Rash actions are seldom committed in isolation. With the first rash action we always do too much. So we usually go on to commit asecond one--and then we do too little.

Improvements are invented only by those who can feel that something is not good.

If there is something to pardon in everything, there is also something to condemn.

How much truth can a spirit bear, how much truth can a spirit dare? ... that became for me more and more the real measure of value.