He who is silent is forgotten; he who does not advance falls back; he who stops is overwhelmed; out distanced, crushed; he who ceases t grow becomes smaller; he who leaves off, gives up; the condition of standing still is the beginning of the end.

Men don't achieve truth because they lack humility and love of truth. They won't criticize their own beliefs. Truth would overwhelm them.

Man is a willful and covetous animal, who makes use of his intellect to satisfy his inclinations, but who cares nothing for truth, who rebels against personal discipline, who hates disinterested thought and the idea of self-education. Wisdom offends him, because it rouses in him disturbance and confusion, and because he will not see himself as he is.

Sacrifice still exists everywhere, and everywhere the elect of each generation suffers for the salvation of the rest.

For purposes of action nothing is more useful than narrowness of thought combined with energy of will.

Sadness takes up the pen more readily than joy.

He who asks of life nothing but the improvement of his own nature... is less liable than anyone else to miss and waste life.