No matter what one says, you can recognize only those matters that are equal to you. Only rulers who possess extraordinary abilities will recognize and esteem properly extraordinary abilities in their subjects and servants.

Here too it’s masquerade, I find: As everywhere, the dance of mind. I grasped a lovely masked procession, And caught things from a horror show… I’d gladly settle for a false impression, If it would last a little longer, though.

Architecture is crystallized music.

There is nothing in which people more betray their character than in what they laugh at.

Change amuses the mind, but rarely profits.

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

As our inclinations, so our opinions.