The world of empirical morality consists for the most part of nothing but ill will and envy.

Each indecision brings its own delays and days are lost lamenting over lost days... What you can do or think you can do, begin it. For boldness has magic, power, and genius in it.

Superstition is the poesy of practical life; hence, a poet is none the worse for being superstitious.

Chess is the touchstone of intellect.

Mastery is often taken for egotism.

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

Whatever we think out, whatever we take in hand to do, should be perfectly and finally finished, that the world, if it must alter, will only have to spoil it; we have then nothing to do but unite the severed, to recollect and restore the dismembered.