Mathematics has the completely false reputation of yielding infallible conclusions. Its infallibility is nothing but identity. Two times two is not four, but it is just two times two, and that is what we call four for short. But four is nothing new at all. And thus it goes on and on in its conclusions, except that in the higher formulas the identity fades out of sight.

Life's objective is life itself.

A vain man can never be altogether rude. Desirous as he is of pleasing, he fashions his manners after those of others.

Impotent hatred is the most horrible of all emotions; one should hate nobody whom one cannot destroy.

There are but two roads that lead to an important goal and to the doing of great things: strength and perseverance. Strength is the lot of but a few privileged men; but austere perseverance, harsh and continuous, may be employed by the smallest of us and rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistibly greater with time.

All that is transitory is but a metaphor.

Oblivion is full of people who allow the opinions of others to overrule their belief in themselves.