Through searching out origins, one becomes a crab. The historian looks backwards, and finally he also believes backwards.

The lack of closeness among friends is a fault that cannot be reprimanded without becoming incurable.

What separates two people most profoundly is a different sense and degree of cleanliness.

It was a subtle refinement of God to learn Greek when he wished to write a book – and that he did not learn it better.

Thus I spoke, more and more softly; for I was afraid of my own thoughts and the thoughts behind my thoughts.

Creating-that is the great salvation from suffering.

Whoever writes in blood and aphorisms wants not to be learned but to be learned by heart.