Besides, nowadays, almost all capable people are terribly afraid of being ridiculous, and are miserable because of it.

--you wouldn't have hurt me like this for nothing. So what have I done? How have I wronged you? Tell me.

Can a man of perception respect himself at all?

If you can put the question, 'Am I or am I not responsible for my acts?' then you are responsible.

Everywhere I am the object of an unbelievable esteem, the interest in me is, quite simply, tremendous.

As soon as any one is near me, his personality disturbs my self-complacency and restricts my freedom. In twenty-four hours I begin to hate the best of men: one because he's too long over his dinner; another because he has a cold and keeps on blowing his nose. I become hostile to people the moment they come close to me. But it has always happened that the more I detest men individually the more ardent becomes my love for humanity.

I am a ridiculous man. They call me a madman now. That would be a distinct rise in my social position were it not that they still regard me as being as ridiculous as ever.