The historian is a prophet looking backward.

Versatility of education can be found in our best poetry, but the depth of mankind should be found in the philosopher.

An aphorism ought to be entirely isolated from the surrounding world like a little work of art and complete in itself like a hedgehog.

One can only become a philosopher, but not be one. As one believes he is a philosopher, he stops being one.

Many works of the ancients have become fragments. Many works of the moderns are fragments at the time of their origin.

Mysteries are feminine; they like to veil themselves but still want to be seen and divined.

Nothing is more witty and grotesque than ancient mythology and Christianity; that is because they are so mystical.

Wit is an explosion of the compound spirit.

Form your life humanly, and you have done enough: but you will never reach the height of art and the depth of science without something divine.