Artists have a double relationship towards nature: they are her master and her slave at the same time. They are her slave in so far as they must work with means of this world so as to be understood; her master in so far as they subject these means to their higher goals and make them subservient to them.

Such is the frailty of man that even where he makes the truest and most forcible impression in the memory, in the heart of his beloved, there also he must perish.

Take life too seriously, and what is it worth? If the morning wake us to no new joys, if the evening bring us not the hope of new pleasure, is it worthwhile to dress and undress?

To accept good advice is but to increase one's own ability.

Everything that we encounter leaves traces behind. Everything contributes imperceptibly to our education

Whoever wishes to keep a secret must hide the fact that he possesses one.

Everything great and intelligent is in the minority