I understand by 'freedom of spirit' something quite definite - the unconditional will to say No, where it is dangerous to say No.

Rather perish than hate and fear, and twice rather perish than make oneself hated and feared — this must some day become the highest maxim for every single commonwealth.

There is a stupid humility that is quite common and when a person is afflicted with it, he is once and for all disqualified for being a disciple of knowledge.

Whoever has provoked men to rage against him has always gained a party in his favor, too.

You lack the courage to be consumed in flames and to become ashes: so you will never become new, and never young again!

Reckoned physiologically, everything ugly weakens and afflicts man. It recalls decay, danger, impotence; he actually suffers a loss of energy in its presence. The effect of the ugly can be measured with a dynamometer. Whenever man feels in any way depressed, he senses the proximity of something ugly. His feeling of power, his will to power, his courage, his pride - they decline with the ugly, they increase with the beautiful.

It is the business of the very few to be independent; it is a privilege of the strong.