Every philosophical review ought to be a philosophy of reviews at the same time.

The two basic maxims of the so-called historical criticism are the postulate of the common and the axiom of the ordinary. Postulate of the common: everything really great, good, and beautiful, is improbable, since it is extraordinary and therefore at least suspect. Axiom of the ordinary: our conditions and environment must have existed everywhere, for they are really so natural.

Genius is, to be sure, not a matter of arbitrariness, but rather of freedom, just as wit, love, and faith, which once shall become arts and disciplines. We should demand genius from everybody, without, however, expecting it.

Nothing is more witty and grotesque than ancient mythology and Christianity; that is because they are so mystical.

It is peculiar to mankind to transcend mankind.

Novels are the Socratic dialogues of our time. Practical wisdom fled from school wisdom into this liberal form.

An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog.