The soul must have its chosen sewers to carry away its ordure. This function is performed by persons, relationships, professions, the fatherland, the world, or finally, for the really arrogant - I mean our modern pessimists - by the Good God himself.

Many die too late, and some die too early. Yet strangers soundeth the precept: "Die at the right time!"

Every man is a creative cause of what happens, a primum mobile with an original movement.

Once and for all, there are many things I choose not to know.--Wisdom sets limits even to knowledge.

Whoever has witnessed another's ideal becomes his inexorable judge and as it were his evil conscience.

One who is unassuming in dealing with people exhibits his arrogance all the more strongly in dealing with things (city, state, society, age, mankind). That is his revenge.

We criticize a man or a book most sharply when we sketch out their ideal.