“It should be regarded as a sign that a man suffers from envy but is striving for higher things when he feels drawn by the idea that in face of the man of excellence there is only one way of escape: love.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §351.

“It happens exceptionally that a man achieves his highest flight only when he disavows his ideal: for this ideal has hitherto driven him too impetuously, so that he has got out of breath half way along every path he has taken and has had to come to a standstill.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §350.

“In solitude the solitary man consumes himself, in public the crowd consumes him. Now choose.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §348 (edited).

“If we are misunderstood as a whole, it is impossible to completely eradicate misunderstanding on any one individual point. We have to realize this if we are not to squander superfluous energy on our own defense.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §346.

“We should not let ourselves be tyrannized over by our fairest ability: that of elevating things into the ideal.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §345 (excerpt).

“The most painful feeling there is, is to discover that one is always taken for something higher than one is. For one is then obliged to admit to oneself: something in you is lies and deception, your words, the impression you make, your glance, your actions, and this deceptive something is as necessary as your honesty in other matters, but it continually undermines and devalues the effect of this honesty.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §344.

“The apprentice loves the master differently from the way the master loves him.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §341.

“So long as you are praised, think only that you are not yet on your own path but on that of another.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §340.

“One should either conceal one’s opinions or conceal oneself behind one’s opinions. He who does otherwise does not know the ways of the world or belongs to the order of holy foolhardiness.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §338.

“We must take care not to establish our life on too narrow an area of desires: for if we renounce the joys that position, honors, companionship, sensual pleasures, comforts, and the arts afford, the day may come when we discover that through doing without these things we have acquired for a neighbor, not wisdom, but boredom with life.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §337.

“It is warmer in the heights than people in the valleys think, especially in winter. The thinker will know what is meant by this metaphor.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §335.

“Most people are nothing and count for nothing until they have clad themselves in general convictions and public opinions. In accordance with the tailor’s philosophy: the clothes make the man. However, in regards to exceptional men: only the wearer creates the costume. Here opinions cease from being public and become something other than masks, finery and camouflage.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §325 (edited).

“It is only up to a certain point that possessions make men more independent and free. One step further and the possessions become the master, the possessor the slave.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §317 (edited excerpt).

“The socialist movements are now more welcome than fear-inspiring to the dynastic governments, because through them the latter can get into their hands the right and the weapons for taking the exceptional measures with which they are able to strike at the figures that really fill them with terror: the democrats and anti-daynasts. Such governments are obliged to veil their soul.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §316 (edited).

“Of him who surrenders himself to events there remains less and less. Great politicians can thus become completely empty men and yet once have been rich and full.”

—Human, All Too Human, “Assorted Opinions and Maxims,” §315.