“
Sleeping is no mean art: for its sake one must stay awake all day.
“
When art dresses in worn-out material it is most easily recognized as art.
“
I do not know what the spirit of a philosopher could more wish to be than a good dancer. For the dance is his ideal, also his fine art, finally also the only kind of piety he knows, his ’divine service.’
“
For art to exist, for any sort of aesthetic activity to exist, a certain physiological precondition is indispensable: intoxication.
“
Art is not merely an imitation of the reality of nature, but in truth a metaphysical supplement to the reality of nature, placed alongside thereof for its conquest.
“
Admiration for a quality or an art can be so strong that it deters us from striving to possess it.
“
Art is the proper task of life.
“
We have art in order not to die of the truth.
“
The essence of all beautiful art, all great art, is gratitude.
“
The doer alone learneth.
“
Perhaps I know best why it is man alone who laughs he alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter.
“
When marrying, ask yourself this question: Do you believe that you will be able to converse well with this person into your old age? Everything else in marriage is transitory.
“
In the course of history, men come to see that iron necessity is neither iron nor necessary.
“
It is the most sensual men who need to flee women and torment their bodies.
“
Whoever has provoked men to rage against him has always gained a party in his favor, too.
“
Regarding life, the wisest men of all ages have judged alike: it is worthless.
“
Great indebtedness does not make men grateful, but vengeful and if a little charity is not forgotten, it turns into a gnawing worm.
“
There are people who want to make men’s lives more difficult for no other reason than the chance it provides them afterwards to offer their prescription for alleviating life their Christianity, for instance.
“
’Evil men have no songs.’ How is it that the Russians have songs?
“
A great value of antiquity lies in the fact that its writings are the only ones that modern men still read with exactness.