Religion is absolutely unfathomable. Always and everywhere one can dig more deeply into infinities.

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.

That which reminds us of nature and thus stimulates a feeling for the infinite abundance of life is beautiful. Nature is organic,and therefore the highest beauty is forever vegetative; and the same is true for morality and love.

Wit as an instrument of revenge is as infamous as art is as a means of sensual titillation.

Nothing truly convincing - which would possess thoroughness, vigor, and skill - has been written against the ancients as yet; especially not against their poetry.

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

The need to raise itself above humanity is humanity's main characteristic.