In our interactions with people, a benevolent hypocrisy is frequently required--acting as though we do not see through the motivesof their actions.

In war personal revenge maintains its silence.

Good writers have two things in common: they prefer to be understood rather than admired; and they do not write for knowing and over-acute readers.

Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed.

Mystical explanations are thought to be deep; the truth is that they are not even shallow.

Whoever is related to me in the height of his aspirations will experience veritable ecstasies of learning; for I come from heights that no bird ever reached in its flight, I know abysses into which no foot ever strayed.

Different types of dangerous lives-You have no idea what you are living through; you rush through life as if you were drunk and now and then fall down some staircase. But thanks to your drunkenness you never break a limb; your muscles are too relaxed and your brain too benighted for you to find the stones of these stairs as hard as we do.