Reason is mechanical, wit chemical, and genius organic spirit.

Ideas are infinite, original, and lively divine thoughts.

Art and works of art do not make an artist; sense and enthusiasm and instinct do.

Like Leibniz's possible worlds, most men are only equally entitled pretenders to existence. There are few existences.

Since poetry is infinitely valuable, I do not understand why it should be more valuable than this or that which is also infinitelyvaluable. There are artists who perhaps do not think art to be too great, for this is impossible, and yet they are not free enough to be able to rise above their own best accomplishments.

There is no self-knowledge except historical self-knowledge. No one knows what he is if he doesn't know what his contemporaries are.

To disrespect the masses is moral; to honor them, lawful.