Read from a distant star, the majuscule script of our earthly existence would perhaps lead to the conclusion that the earth was the distinctively ascetic planet, a nook of disgruntled, arrogant creatures filled with a profound disgust with themselves, at the earth, at all life, who inflict as much pain on themselves as they possibly can out of pleasure in inflicting pain which is probably their only pleasure.

Unteachable from infancy to tomb - There is the first & main characteristic of mankind.

Is man one of God's blunders? Or is God one of man's blunders?

Man is a rope, tied between beast and overman - a rope over an abyss. What is great in man is that he is a bridge and not an end: what can be loved in man is that he is an overture and a going under.

Perhaps I know best why it is man alone who laughs; he alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter.

Man is the only animal that must be encouraged to live.