I've long stopped worrying about who invented whom - God man or man God.

originality and a feeling of one's own dignity are achieved only through work and struggle.

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.

But do you understand, I cry to him, do you understand that if you have the guillotine in the forefront, and with such glee, it's for the sole reason that cutting heads off is the easiest thing, and having an idea is difficult!

One's own free and unfettered volition, one's own caprice, however wild, one's own fancy, inflamed sometimes to the point of madness - that is the one best and greatest good, which is never taken into consideration because it cannot fit into any classification and the omission of which sends all systems and theories to the devil.

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

And though I suffer for you, yet it eases my heart to suffer for you.