The less men are fettered by tradition, the greater becomes the inward activity of their motives, and greater again in proportion to their outer restlessness.
It is only possible through the fact that sympathy for the general life and suffering of mankind is very weakly developed in the individual.
All mankind is divided, as it was at all times and is still, into slaves and freemen.
Freedom of opinion is like health; both are individual, and no good general conception can be set up of either of them.
Unconsciously we seek the principles and opinions which are suited to our temperament, so that at last it seems as if these principles and opinions had formed our character and given it support and stability.
God is a gross answer, an indelicacy against us thinkers- at bottom merely a gross prohibition for us: you shall not think!
So far there has been no philosopher in whose hands philosophy has not grown into an apology for knowledge; on this point, at least, every one is an optimist, that the greatest usefulness must be ascribed to knowledge. They are all tyrannized over by logic, and this is optimism in its essence.
He who does not desire much more from things than knowledge of them easily makes peace with his soul.
The rising and falling of the scales of pride and humility sustain the brooding mind as well as the alternations of desire and peace of the soul.
For both parties in a controversy, the most disagreeable way of retaliating is to be vexed and silent; for the aggressor usually regards the silence as a sign of contempt.
The most unequivocal sign of contempt for man is to regard everybody merely as a means to one’s own ends, or of no account whatever.
Moral contempt is a far greater indignity and insult than any kind of crime.
The higher culture an individual attains, the less field there is left for mockery and scorn.
I have not the capability to give you my loyalty, nor do I have the vanity to appear as if I did.
Those who are bent on revolutionizing society may be divided into those who seek something for themselves thereby and those who seek something for their children and grandchildren.
The magnitude of a progress is gauged by the greatness of the sacrifice that it requires.
When a scholar of the old culture vows no longer to have anything to do with men who believe in progress, he is right. For the old culture has its greatness and goodness behind it, and an historical education forces one to admit that it can never again be fresh.
No power can be maintained when it is only represented by hypocrites.
Men submit from habit to everything that seeks power.
Be generous in nature and thought; for this wins respect and gives confidence and power.