But yet I am firmly persuaded that a great deal of consciousness, every sort of consciousness, in fact, is a disease.

... active love is a harsh and fearful thing compared with the love in dreams. Love in dreams thirsts for immediate action, quickly performed, and with everyone watching. Indeed, it will go as far as the giving even of one's life, provided it does not take long but is soon over, as on stage, and eveyone is looking on and praising. Whereas active love is labor and persistence, and for some people, perhaps, a whole science.

And, indeed, I will at this point ask an idle question on my own account: which is better — cheap happiness or exalted sufferings? Well, which is better?

The degree of a nation’s civilization can be seen in the way it treats its prisoners

At some thoughts one stands perplexed, especially at the sight of men's sin, and wonders whether one should use force or humble love. Always decide to use humble love. If you resolve on that once for all, you may subdue the whole world.

Power is given only to him who dares to stoop and take it ... one must have the courage to dare.

In abstract love of humanity one almost always only loves oneself.