It is pathetic to observe how lowly the motives are that religion, even the highest, attributes to the deity... To be given the best morsel, to be remembered, to be praised, to be obeyed blindly and punctiliously - these have been thought points of honor with the gods.

For an idea ever to be fashionable is ominous, since it must afterwards be always old fashioned

All spiritual interests are supported by animal life.

The human mind is not rich enough to drive many horses abreast and wants one general scheme, under which it strives to bring everything.

Habit is stronger than reason.

Nothing can so pierce the soul as the uttermost sigh of the body.

I feel so much the continual death of everything and everybody, and have so learned to reconcile myself to it, that the final and official end loses most of its impressiveness.