No conquest can ever become permanent which does not show itself beneficial to the conquered as well as to the conquerors.

Fancy that thou deservest to be hangedthou wilt feel it happiness to be only shot: fancy that thou deservest to be hanged ina hair halter, it will be a luxury to die in hemp.

The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession; like the honor of a soldier, dearer to him than life.

There needs not a great soul to make a hero; there needs a god-created soul which will be true to its origin; that will be a great soul!

The situation that has not its duty, its ideal, was never yet occupied by man. Yes, here, in this poor, miserable, hampered, despicable actual, wherein thou even now standest, here or nowhere is thy ideal; work it out therefrom, and, working, believe, live, be free. Fool! the ideal is in thyself.

Men's hearts ought not to be set against one another, but set with one another and all against evil only.

Egotism is the source and summary of all faults and miseries.