Against stupidity the very gods themselves contend in vain.

While the womanly god demands our veneration, the godlike woman kindles our love; but while we allow ourselves to melt in the celestial loveliness, the celestial self-sufficiency holds us back in awe.

Posterity weaves no garlands for imitators.

Sentimental poetry differs from naive poetry in that it relates the real state at which the latter stops to ideas and applies ideas to that reality.

It hinders the creative work of the mind if the intellect examines too closely the ideas as they pour in.

Mankind is made great or little by its own will.

Misery travels free through the whole world!