The sinew and heart of man seem to be drawn out, and we are become timorous desponding whimperers. We are afraid of truth, afraid of fortune, afraid of death, and afraid of each other.

General ideas are essences. They are our gods: they round and ennoble the most partial and sordid way of living.

I think we must get rid of slavery or we must get rid of freedom.

Thoughts come into our minds by avenues which we never left open, and thoughts go out of our minds through avenues which we never voluntarily opened.

To educate the wise man, the State exists; and with the appearance of the wise man, the State expires. The appearance of charactermakes the state unnecessary. The wise man is the State.

The machine unmakes the man. Now that the machine is so perfect, the engineer is nobody.

The unbelief of the age is attested by the loud condemnation of trifles.