Do ask yourself why you, the individual, exist, and if you can get no other answer try for once to justify the meaning of your existence as it were a posteriori by setting before yourself an aim, a goal, a 'to this end', an exalted and noble 'to this end'.

The philosopher believes that the value of his philosophy lies in the whole, in the building: posterity discovers it in the bricks with which he built and which are then often used again for better building: in the fact, that is to say, that building can be destroyed and nonetheless possess value as material.

But this word will I say to my enemies: What is all manslaughter in comparison with what you have done to me!

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.

Where does one not find that bland degeneration which beer produces in the spirit!

Among austere men intimacy involves shame--and is something precious.

No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.