Oblivion is full of people who allow the opinions of others to overrule their belief in themselves.

He who has a task to perform must know how to take sides, or he is quite unworthy of it.

The safest thing is always to try to convert everything that is in us and around us into action; let the others talk and argue about it as they please.

First and last, what is demanded of genius is love of truth.

I believe in God and in nature and in the triumph of good over evil.

If the whole world I once could see On free soil stand, with the people free Then to the moment might I say, Linger awhile. . .so fair thou art.

Without my attempts in natural science, I should never have learned to know mankind such as it is. In nothing else can we so closely approach pure contemplation and thought, so closely observe the errors of the senses and of the understanding, the weak and strong points of character.