The more a man acts on his own, the more he develops himself. In large associations he is too prone to become merely an instrument.

All translating seems to me to be simply an attempt to accomplish an impossible task.

Besides the pleasure derived from acquired knowledge, there lurks in the mind of man, and tinged with a shade of sadness, an unsatisfactory longing for something beyond the present, a striving towards regions yet unknown and unopened.

Whatever does not spring from a man's free choice, or is only the result of instruction and guidance, does not enter into his very being, but still remains alien to his true nature; he does not perform it with truly human energies, but merely with mechanical exactness.

Life, in all ranks and situations, is an outward occupation, an actual and active work.

Faith can be interested in results only, for a truth once recognized as such puts an end to the believer's thinking.

Government, religion, property, books, are nothing but the scaffolding to build men. Earth holds up to her master no fruit like the finished man.