Eroticism, it may be said, is assenting to life up to the point of death

[F]or academic men to be happy, the universe would have to take shape. All of philosophy has no other goal: it is a matter of giving a frock coat to what is, a mathematical frock coat. On the other hand, affirming that the universe resembles nothing and is only formless amounts to saying that the universe is something like a spider or spit.

Incredible nervous state, trepidation beyond words: to be this much in love is to be sick (and I love to be sick).

Literature ... is the rediscovery of childhood.

Pleasure only starts once the worm has got into the fruit; to become delightful, happiness must be tainted with poison.

Naturally, love's the most distant possibility.

To place oneself in the position of God is painful: being God is equivalent to being tortured. For being God means that one is in harmony with all that is, including the worst. The existence of the worst evils is unimaginable unless God willed them.