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

Crude men who feel themselves insulted tend to assess the degree of insult as high as possible, and talk about the offense in greatly exaggerated language, only so they can revel to their heart's content in the aroused feelings of hatred and revenge.

All truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.

You implanted your highest goal into the heart of those passions: then they became your virtues and joys.

A letter is an unannounced visit, the postman the agent of rude surprises. One ought to reserve an hour a week for receiving letters and afterwards take a bath.

Are you one who looks on? or lends a hand? - or who looks away, sidles off?...Third question for the conscience.

What is great in man is that he is a bridge and not a goal: what there is to love in man is that he is a going-over and a going-under.