The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.

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

Shows itself in the notion that what may be objectively true may in the mouth of certain people become false.

There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse.

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.

...it is presumptuous ridicule of God if someone thinks that only the person who desires great wealth chooses mammon. Alas, the person who insists on having a penny without God, wants to have a penny all for himself. He thereby chooses mammon. A penny is enough, the choice is made, he has chosen mammon; that it is little makes not the slightest difference. The love of God is hatred of the world and love of the world hatred of God.

How absurd men are! They never use the liberties they have, they demand those they do not have. They have freedom of thought, they demand freedom of speech.