What ought a man be? Well, my short answer is 'himself'.

It was then that I began to look into the seams of your doctrine. I wanted only to pick at a single knot; but when I had got that undone, the whole thing raveled out. And then I understood that it was all machine-sewn.

Different people have different duties assigned them by Nature; Nature has given one the power or the desire to do this, the other that. Each bird must sing with his own throat.

Marriage! Nothing else demands so much of a man

In your power, all the same. Subject to your will and your demands. No longer free! No! That's a thought I'll never endure! Never.

Poetry is to hold judgment on your soul.

Take the life-lie away from the average man and straight away you take away his happiness.