All instincts that do not discharge themselves outwardly turn inward - this is what I call the internalization of man: thus it was that man first developed what was later called his soul.

Men are even lazier than they are timid, and fear most of all the inconveniences with which unconditional honesty and nakedness would burden them.

No one accuses without an underlying notion of punishment and revenge, even when he accuses his fate or himself. All complaint is accusation, all self-congratulation is praise.

Whoever has witnessed another's ideal becomes his inexorable judge and as it were his evil conscience.

If there is something to pardon in everything, there is also something to condemn.

What can everyone do? Praise and blame. This is human virtue, this is human madness.