The owl of Minerva spreads its wings only with the falling of the dusk.

Once the state has been founded, there can no longer be any heroes. They come on the scene only in uncivilized conditions.

When liberty is mentioned, we must always be careful to observe whether it is not really the assertion of private interests which is thereby designated.

In history an additional result is commonly produced by human actions beyond that which they aim at and obtain -- that which they immediately recognize and desire. They gratify their own interest; but something further is thereby accomplished, latent in the actions in question, though not present to their consciousness, and not included in their design.

We must have a new mythology, but it must place itself at the service of ideas, it must become a mythology of reason. Mythology must become philosophical, so that the people may become rational, and philosophy must become mythological, so that philosophers may become sensible. If we do not give ideas a form that is aesthetic, i.e., mythological, they will hold no interest for people.

The valor that struggles is better than the weakness that endures.

To be independent of public opinion is the first formal condition of achieving anything great.