It is the music in our conscience, the dance in our spirit, to which Puritan litanies, moral sermons, and goody goodness won’t chime.

Jesus died too soon. If he had lived to my age he would have repudiated his doctrine.

The world is a work of art that gives birth to itself.

People press toward the light not in order to see better but in order to shine better.--We are happy to regard the one before whomwe shine as light.

One must cease letting oneself be eaten when one tastes best: that is known to those who want to be loved long.

Never to read another book that was born and baptized (with ink) at the same time.

When one speaks of humanity, the idea is fundamental that this is something which separates and distinguishes man from nature. In reality, however, there is no such separation: "natural" qualities and those called truly "human" are inseparably grown together. Man, in his highest and noblest capacities, is wholly nature and embodies its uncanny dual character. Those of his abilities which are terrifying and considered inhuman may even be the fertile soil out of which alone all humanity can grow in impulse, deed, and work.