It is now almost my sole rule of life to clear myself of cants and formulas, as of poisonous Nessus shirts.

No good book or good thing of any kind shows it best face at first. No the most common quality of in a true work of art that has excellence and depth, is that at first sight it produces a certain disappointment.

I should say sincerity, a deep, great, genuine sincerity, is the first characteristic of all men in any way heroic.

Every noble crown is, and on Earth will forever be, a crown of thorns.

Perfect ignorance is quiet, perfect knowledge is quiet; not so the transition from the former to the latter.

I don't like to talk much with people who always agree with me. It is amusing to coquette with an echo for a little while, but one soon tires of it.

The Great Man's sincerity is of the kind he cannot speak of, is not conscious of: nay, I suppose, he is conscious rather of insincerity; for what man can walk accurately by the law of truth for one day? No, the Great Man does not boast himself sincere, far from that; perhaps does not ask himself if he is so: I would say rather, his sincerity does not depend on himself; he cannot help being sincere!