Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.
The essence of greatness is neglect of the self.
Fear is the parent of cruelty.
Ignorance is the dominion of absurdity.
Every one of us ... knows better than he practices, and recognizes a better law than he obeys.
High original genius is always ridiculed on its first appearance; most of all by those who have won themselves the highest reputation in working on the established lines. Genius only commands recognition when it has created the taste which is to appreciate it.