"The best government is that which teaches us to govern ourselves."

"Who is the wisest man? He who neither knows or wishes for anything else than what happens."

"Men grieve [Mephistopheles] so with the days of their lamenting, [he] even hate[s] to plague them with [his] torments."

"Beauty is a manifestation of secret natural laws, which otherwise would have been hidden from us forever."

"He who possesses art and science has religion; he who does not possess them, needs religion."

"The world remains ever the same."

"The biggest problem with every art is by the use of appearance to create a loftier reality."

"Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words."

"A clever man commits no minor blunders."

"I will listen to anyone's convictions, but pray keep your doubts to yourself."

"Doubt grows with knowledge."

"Let this little book be thy friend, if, owing to fortune or through thine own fault, thou canst not find a dearer companion."

"What you inherit from your fathermust first be earned before it's yours."

"All that is transitory is but a metaphor."

"Every step of life shows much caution is required."

"Mysteries are not necessarily miracles."

"Love does not dominate; it cultivates."

"Know thyself? If I knew myself, I'd run away."

"What life half gives a man, posterity gives entirely."

"Hatred is something peculiar. You will always find it strongest and most violent where there is the lowest degree of culture."

"You can't, if you can't feel it, if it neverRises from the soul, and swaysThe heart of every single hearer,With deepest power, in simple ways.You'll sit forever, gluing things together,Cooking up a stew from other's scraps,Blowing on a miserable fire,Made from your heap of dying ash.Let apes and children praise your art,If their admiration's to your taste,But you'll never speak from heart to heart,Unless it rises up from your heart's space."

"Passions are vices or virtues to their highest powers."

"The world turns gray, the air grows cool, the fog blows in. Only at evening can you really value home."