It is in the half fools and the half wise that the greatest danger lies.

Men are so inclined to content themselves with what is commonest; the spirit and the senses so easily grow dead to the impressions of the beautiful and perfect, that every one should study, by all methods, to nourish in his mind the faculty of feeling these things. ...For this reason, one ought every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and, if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.

A rainbow which lasts for a quarter of an hour is looked at no longer.

Writing is busy idleness.

This is the highest wisdom that I own; freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew.

To the man of thought almost nothing is really ridiculous.

How can one learn to know oneself? Never by introspection, rather by action.