People try to persuade us that the objections against Christianity spring from doubt. That is a complete misunderstanding. The objections against Christianity spring from insubordination, the dislike of obedience, rebellion against all authority. As a result, people have hitherto been beating the air in their struggle against objections, because they have fought intellectually with doubt instead of fighting morally with rebellion.

Since my earliest childhood a barb of sorrow has lodged in my heart. As long as it stays I am ironic - if it is pulled out I shall die.

Pain reconciles one to existence. Infinite resignation is that shirt in the old fable. The thread is spun with tears, bleached by tears, the shirt sewn in tears, but then it also gives better protection than iron. The secret in life is that everyone must sew it for himself.

Now, with God's help, I shall become myself.

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

Which is more difficult, to awaken one who sleeps or to awaken one who, awake, dreams that he is awake?

Only when it is a duty to love, only then is love eternally and happily secured against despair.