The danger of our culture.- We belong to a period of which the culture is in danger of being destroyed by the appliances of culture.

Good manners disappear in proportion as the influence of a Court and an exclusive aristocracy lessens; this decrease can be plainly observed from decade to decade by those who have an eye for public behavior, which grows visibly.

Poets are shameless with their experiences: they exploit them.

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

The thirst for equality can express itself either as a desire to draw everyone down to one's level, or to raise oneself and everyone else up.

For such is man: a Theological Dogma might be refuted to him a thousand times - provided however, that he had need of it, he would again and again accept it as true. Belief is always most desired, most pressingly needed where there is a lack of will. Fanaticism is the sole "volitional strength" to which the weak and irresolute can be excited, as a sort of hypnotising of the entire sensory-intellectual system.

We must take precautions against being prematurely honed sharp--since at the same time we are being prematurely honed thin.