The deepest, the only theme of human history, compared to which all others are of subordinate importance, is the conflict of skepticism with faith.

Hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture.

A useless life is an early death.

Man is a simple being, and however rich, varied, and unfathomable he may be, the cycle of his situations is soon run through.

Analysis and synthesis are both as necessary to the thinking spirit as inspiration and expiration to the organism.

If you want someone to develop a specific trait, treat them as though they already had it.

No one can take from us the joy of the first becoming aware of something, the so-called discovery. But if we also demand the honor, it can be utterly spoiled for us, for we are usually not the first. What does discovery mean, and who can say that he has discovered this or that? After all it's pure idiocy to brag about priority; for it's simply unconscious conceit, not to admit frankly that one is a plagiarist.