It is better to do the smallest thing in the world than to hold half an hour to be too small a thing.

The world cannot do without great men, but great men are very troublesome to the world.

What we agree with leaves us inactive, but contradiction makes us productive.

Nature is beneficent. I praise her and all her works. She is silent and wise. She is cunning, but for good ends. She has brought me here and will also lead me away. She may scold me, but she will not hate her work. I trust her.

Quite often, as life goes on, when we feel completely secure as we go on our way, we suddenly notice that we are trapped in error, that we have allowed ourselves to be taken in by individuals, by objects, have dreamt up an affinity with them which immediately vanishes before our waking eye; and yet we cannot tear ourselves away, held fast by some power that seems incomprehensible to us. Sometimes, however, we become fully aware and realize that error as well as truth can move and spur us on to action.

Yet he who grasps the moment's gift, He is the proper man.

Confronted by outstanding merit, there is no way of saving one's ego except by love