Man... knows only when he is satisfied and when he suffers, and only his sufferings and his satisfactions instruct him concerning himself, teach him what to seek and what to avoid. For the rest, man is a confused creature; he knows not whence he comes or whither he goes, he knows little of the world, and above all, he knows little of himself.

What is predestination? Answer: God is more powerful and wiser than we are, therefore he deals with us according to his pleasure.

Wisdom is only found in truth.

A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart.

Too rigid scruples are concealed pride.

In all things, to serve from the lowest station upwards is necessary. To restrict yourself to a trade is best. For the narrow mind, whatever he attempts is still a trade; for the higher, an art; and the highest in doing one thing does all, or, to speak less paradoxically, in the one thing which he does rightly he sees the likeness of all that is done rightly.

Personality is everything in art and poetry.