All that is alive tends toward color, individuality, specificity, effectiveness and opacity. All that is done with life inclines toward knowledge, abstraction, generality transfiguration and transparency.

We are accustomed to see men deride what they do not understand, and snarl at the good and beautiful because it lies beyond their sympathies

When I make a mistake everyone can see it, but not when I lie.

The greatest difficulties lie where we are not looking for them.

Whoever wishes to keep a secret must hide the fact that he possesses one.

Alas, I have studied philosophy, the law as well as medicine, and to my sorrow, theology; studied them well with ardent zeal, yet here I am, a wretched fool, no wiser than I was before.

To hard necessity ones will and fancy must conform.