The form of a work of art, which gives speech to their thoughts and is, therefore, their mode of talking, is always somewhat uncertain, like all kinds of speech.

A man who possesses genius is insufferable unless he also possesses at least two other things: gratitude and cleanliness.

The more abstract the truth you wish to teach, the more must you allure the senses to it.

We would not let ourselves be burned to death for our opinions: we are not sure enough of them for that.

Our greatest experiences are our quietest moments.

Every word instantly becomes a concept precisely insofar as it is not supposed to serve as a reminder of the unique and entirely individual original experience to which it owes its origin; but rather, a word becomes a concept insofar as it simultaneously has to fit countless more or less similar cases -- which means, purely and simply, cases which are never equal and thus altogether unequal.

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