He who without the Muse's madness in his soul comes knocking at the door of poesy and thinks that art will make him anything fit to be called a poet, finds that the poetry which he indites in his sober senses is beaten hollow by the poetry of madmen.

My plainness of speech makes people hate me, and what is their hatred but a proof that I am speaking the truth.

Music has the capacity to touch the innermost reaches of the soul and music gives flight to the imagination.

He whom Love touches not walks in darkness.

If there were only some way of contriving that a state or an army should be made up of lovers and their beloved, they would be the very best governors of their own city, abstaining from all dishonour, and emulating one another in honour; and when fighting at each other's side, although a mere handful, they would overcome the world. For what lover would not choose rather to be seen by all mankind than by his beloved, either when abandoning his post or throwing away his arms? He would be ready to die a thousand deaths rather than endure this.

There is far greater peril in buying knowledge than in buying meat and drink.

When there is an income tax, the just man will pay more and the unjust less on the same amount of income.