In every party there is one person who, through his dotingly credulous enunciation of party principles, incites the other members to defection.

Strong currents drag many stones and bushes along with them, strong intellects many dense and muddled minds.

O my brothers, am I then cruel? But I say: that which is falling should also be pushed!

To regard states of distress in general as an objection, as something which must be abolished is the greatest nonsense on earth; having the most disastrous consequences, fatally stupid- almost as stupid as a wish to abolish bad weather - out of pity for the poor.

The sensible author writes for no other posterity than his own--that is, for his age--so as to be able even then to take pleasurein himself.

In the mountains, the shortest way is from peak to peak: but for that you must have long legs

A joke is an epigram on the death of a feeling.