However much one generation learns from another, it can never learn from its predecessor the genuinely human factor. In this respect every generation begins afresh. Thus no generation has learned from another how to love, no generation can begin other than at the beginning.

Dread is a sympathetic antipathy and an antipathetic sympathy.

Dread is a womanish debility in which freedom swoons. Psychologically speaking, the fall into sin always occurs in impotence. But dread is at the same time the most egotistic thing.

The unhappy person is never present to themself because they always live in the past or the future.

It seems essential, in relationships and all tasks, that we concentrate only on what is most significant and important.

Genius never desires what does not exist.

Who is also aware of the tremendous risk involved in faith - when he nevertheless makes the leap of faith - this [is] subjectivity ... at its height.