Classicism is health, romanticisim is sickness.
I examine my own being, and find there a world, but a world rather of imagination and dim desires, than of distinctness and living power. Then everything swims before my senses, and I smile and dream while pursuing my way through the world.
A man’s shortcomings are taken from his epoch; his virtues and greatness belong to himself.
An angel! Nonsense! Everybody so describes his mistress; and yet I find it impossible to tell you how perfect she is, or why she is so perfect: suffice it to say she has captivated all my senses.
One mind is enough for a thousand hands.
I can promise to be sincere, but I cannot promise to be impartial.
Nothing is more dangerous than solitude.
They should be ashamed of themselves, all these sober people!
Since you know me and my destiny only too well, you probably also know what attracts me to all unfortunate people.
We amuse ourselves painting our prison-walls with bright figures and brilliant landscapes.
I bid the chords sweet music make, And all must follow in my wake.
When I say to the Moment flying; ‘Linger a while – thou art so fair!’ Then bind me in thy bonds undying, And my final ruin I will bear!
The little that is completed, vanishes from the sight of one who looks forward to what is still to do.
The day is of infinite length for him who knows how to appreciate and use it.
The present moment is a powerful goddess.
Great endowments often announce themselves in youth in the form of singularity and awkwardness.
We must not take the faults of our youth with us into old age, for age brings along its own defects.
Since Time is not a person we can overtake when he is gone, let us honor him with mirth and cheerfulness of heart while he is passing.
Rejoice that you have still have a long time to live, before the thought comes to you that there is nothing more in the world to see.
Age does not make us childish, as some say; it finds us true children.