The misfortune in the state is, that nobody can enjoy life in peace, but that everybody must govern; and in art, that nobody will enjoy what has been produced, but that every one wants to reproduce on his own account.

Man's highest merit always is, as much as possible, to rule external circumstances and as little as possible to let himself be ruled by them.

In nature we never see anything isolated, but everything in connection with something else which is before it, beside it, under it and over it.

Over all the mountain tops is peace. In all treetops you perceive scarcely a breath. The little birds in the forest are silent. Wait then; soon, you too, will have peace.

It is the great triumph of genius to make the common appear novel.

Napoleon for the sake of a good name broke in pieces half the world.

Gray is the color of all theory