It is better to be doing the most insignificant thing than to reckon even a half-hour insignificant.

I curse all negative purism that tells me not to use a word from another language that either expresses something that my own language cannot or does that in a more delicate manner.

Enthusiasm is of the greatest value, so long as we are not carried away by it.

When young, one is confident to be able to build palaces for mankind, but when the time comes one has one's hands full just to be able to remove their trash.

I am the Spirit that denies.

[W]hat counts is that one perceives excellence and dares to give it expression, which sounds little but is in fact a great deal.

Mediocrity has no greater consolation than in the thought that genius is not immortal.