From what the moderns want, we must learn what poetry should become; from what the ancients did, what poetry must be.

Ideas are infinite, original, and lively divine thoughts.

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

Every form of life is in its origin not natural, but divine and human; for it must spring from love, just as there can be no reason without spirit.

What do the few existing mystics still do? -- They more or less mold the raw chaos of already existing religion. But only in an isolated, insignificant manner, through feeble attempts. Do it in a grand manner from all aspects with unified efforts, and let us awaken all religions from their graves, newly revivify and form the immortal ones through the omnipotence of art and science.

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

The whole history of modern poetry is a continuous commentary on the short text of philosophy: every art should become science, and every science should become art; poetry and philosophy should be united.