The accouterments of life were so rich and varied, so elaborated, that almost no place at all was left for life itself. Each and every accessory was so costly and beautiful that it had an existence above and beyond the purpose it was meant to serve – confusing the observer and absorbing attention.

I don't think anyone is thinking long-term now.

A man lives not only his personal life, as an individual, but also, consciously or unconsciously, the life of his epoch and his contemporaries.

What pleases the public is lively and vivid delineation which makes no demands on the intellect; but passionate and absolutist youth can only be enthralled by a problem.

I shall need to sleep three weeks on end to get rested from the rest I've had.

What we call National-Socialism is the poisonous perversion of ideas which have a long history in German intellectual life.

He thought what a fine thing it was that people made music all over the world, even in the strangest settings – probably even on polar expeditions.