Men inadvertently comport themselves with nobility when they have grown accustomed to wanting nothing from others and always giving to them.

It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them!

Every god-man created his own god: and there is no worse enmity on earth than that between gods.

Insects sting, not from malice, but because they want to live. It is the same with critics; they desire our blood not our pain.

All idealism is falsehood in the face of necessity.

It is a self-deception of philosophers and moralists to imagine that they escape decadence by opposing it. That is beyond their will; and, however little they acknowledge it, one later discovers that they were among the most powerful promoters of decadence.

The followers of a great man often put their eyes out, so that they may be the better able to sing his praise.