With respect to physical existence, one needs little, and to the degree that one needs less, the more perfect one is.

The more men believe an idea to be true the greater the likelihood that the idea is mistaken. Those who are right usually stand alone.

Out of love for mankind, and out of despair at my embarrassing situation, seeing that I had accomplished nothing and was unable to make anything easier than it had already been made, and moved by a genuine interest in those who make everything easy, I conceived it as my task to create difficulties everywhere.

The greatest hazard of all, losing one’s self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss - an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc. - is sure to be noticed.

During the first period of our lives the greatest danger is not to take the risk. When once the risk has been taken, then the greatest danger is to risk too much. By not risking at first one turns aside and serves trivialities; in the second case, by risking too much, one turns aside to the fantastic and perhaps to presumption.

For love is exultant when it unites equals, but it is triumphant when it makes that which was unequal equal in love.

It is so hard to believe because it is so hard to obey.