People of uncommon abilities generally fall into eccentricities when their sphere of life is not adequate to their abilities.

There are people who pay attention to the weaknesses of their friends; that is to no avail. I have always closely watched and profited from the strengths of my adversaries.

It is unpleasant to miss even the most trifling thing to which we have been accustomed.

Man's restlessness makes him strive.

Energy will do anything that can be done in the world; and no talents, no circumstances, no opportunities will make a two-legged animal a man without it.

He only earns his freedom and his life Who takes them every day by storm.

Happy contractedness of youth, nay, of mankind in general, that they think neither of the high nor the deep, of the true nor the false, but only of what is suited to their own conceptions.