We have long forgotten the ritual by which the house of our life was erected. But when it is under assault and enemy bombs are already taking their toll, what enervated, perverse antiquities do they not lay bare in the foundations.

He who observes etiquette but objects to lying is like someone who dresses fashionably but wears no vest.

Only for the sake of the hopeless ones have we been given hope.

The concept of progress must be grounded in the idea of catastrophe. That things are 'status quo' is the catastrophe

We collect books in the belief that we are preserving them when in fact it is the books that preserve their collector.

In other words, the unique value of the "authentic" work of art has its basis in ritual, the location of its original use value. This ritualistic basis, however remote, is still recognizable as secularized ritual even in the most profane forms of the cult of beauty.

Never stop writing because you have run out of ideas. Fill the lacunae of inspiration by tidily copying out what is already written.