If you make it a habit not to blame others, you will feel the growth of the ability to love in your soul, and you will see the growth of goodness in your life.

Man by violating his own feelings becomes cruel. And how deeply seated in the human heart is the injunction not to take life.

Seas of blood have been shed for the sake of patriotism. One would expect the harm and irrationality of patriotism to be self-evident to everyone. But the surprising fact is that cultured and learned people not only do not notice the harm and stupidity of patriotism, they resist every unveiling of it with the greatest obstinacy and passion (with no rational grounds), and continue to praise it as beneficent and elevating.

it's much better to do good in a way that no one knows anything about it.

I do value my work awfully; but in reality only consider this: all this world of ours is nothing but a speck of mildew, which has grown up on a tiny planet. And for us to suppose we can have something great - ideas, work - it's all dust and ashes.

A man's every action is inevitably conditioned by what surrounds him and by his own body.

If I know the way home and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way because I am staggering from side to side!