People generally think that it is the world, the environment, external relationships, which stand in one's way, in the way of ones' good fortune... and at bottom it is always man himself that stands in his own way.

Affliction is able to drown out every earthly voice. . . but the voice of eternity within a person it cannot drown.

To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.

The present state of the world and the whole of life is diseased. If I were a doctor and were asked for my advice, I should reply, 'Create silence'.

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

I would rather be a swineherd, understood by the swine, than a poet misunderstood by men.

Where am I? Who am I? How did I come to be here? What is this thing called the world? How did I come into the world? Why was I not consulted? And If I am compelled to take part in it, where is the director? I want to see him.