Say oh wise man how you have come to such knowledge? Because I was never ashamed to confess my ignorance and ask others.

Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.

Each nationality contains its centre of happiness within itself, as a bullet the centre of gravity.

To think what is true, to sense what is beautiful and to want what is good, hereby the spirit finds purpose of a life in reason.

A poet is the creator of the nation around him, he gives them a world to see and has their souls in his hand to lead them to that world.

Those that embrace the entire universe with love, for the most part love nothing, but their narrow selves.

We live in a world we ourselves create.

Touch not the flute when drums are sounding around; when fools have the word, the wise will be silent.

What destiny sends, bear! Whoever perseveres will be crowned.

Brave is the lion tamer, brave is the world subduer, but braver is the one who has subdued himself.

All our science calculates with abstracted individual external marks, which do not touch the inner existence of any single thing

And I can't die easy thinking maybe the menfolks white or black is making a spit cup out of you. Have some sympathy for me. Put me down easy, Janie, I'm a cracked plate.

There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.

You have to tease your family. You tease the ones that you're closest to.

The reason why so few marriages are happy is because young ladies spend their time in making nets, not in making cages.

Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed.

I think the more information you can get, the better you can find information for your own purposes.

I still feel like I have so much to learn. I love that feeling, that next time I go to set, I will be terrified again. I don't want it to be any other way.

Grace is the overflowing favor of God, and you can always count on it being available to draw upon as needed.

I would rather lie on a sofa than sweep beneath it.

I have never changed. I feel as young as I always did and remain close friends with Gerhard Schröder.