Man's duty is to improve himself; to cultivate his mind; and, when he finds himself going astray, to bring the moral law to bear upon himself.

Both love of mankind, and respect for their rights are duties; the former however is only a conditional, the latter an unconditional, purely imperative duty, which he must be perfectly certain not to have transgressed who would give himself up to the secret emotions arising from benevolence.

Two things awe me most, the starry sky above me and the moral law within me.

Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made.

Beneficence is a duty; and he who frequently practices it, and sees his benevolent intentions realized comes, at length, really to love him to whom he has done good.

One who makes himself a worm cannot complain afterwards if people step on him.

But only he who, himself enlightened, is not afraid of shadows.