In the ancients, one sees the accomplished letter of entire poetry: in the moderns, one has the presentiment of the spirit in becoming.

Those works whose ideal has not as much living reality and, as it were, personality as the beloved one or a friend had better remain unwritten. They would at least never become works of art.

As the ancient commander addressed his soldiers before battle, so should the moralist speak to men in the struggle of the era.

Whoever does not philosophize for the sake of philosophy, but rather uses philosophy as a means, is a sophist.

There are three kinds of explanation in science: explanations which throw a light upon, or give a hint at a matter; explanations which do not explain anything; and explanations which obscure everything.

He who has religion will speak poetry. But philosophy is the tool with which to seek and discover religion.

Wit is the appearance, the external flash, of fantasy. Hence its divinity and the similarity to the wit of mysticism.