There is nothing so terrible as activity without insight.

It is said that no man is a hero to his valet. That is because a hero can be recognized only by a hero.

Neither a work of nature nor one of art we get to know when they have been finished; we must surprise them in the process of beingcreated so as to understand them to some degree.

The history of mankind is his character.

Whatever liberates our spirit, without also giving us mastery over ourselves, is destructive.

Difficulties increase the nearer we get to the goal.

Properly speaking, such work is never finished; one must declare it so when, according to time and circumstances, one has done one's best.