Against stupidity the very gods themselves contend in vain.

A sublime soul can rise to all kinds of greatness, but by an effort; it can tear itself from all bondage, to all that limits and constrains it, but only by strength of will. Consequently the sublime soul is only free by broken efforts.

To be man's tender mate was woman born, and in obeying nature she best serves the purposes of heaven.

Gray hairs are death's blossoms.

Only the soldier is a free man, because he can look death in the face.

Utility is the great idol of the age, to which all powers must do service and all talents swear allegiance. In this great balance of utility, the spiritual service of art has no weight, and, deprived of all encouragement, it vanishes from the noisy Vanity Fair of our time.

Stubbornness is not firmness.