“Don’t use that foreign word: ideals. We have the excellent native word: lies.”

In great memories there lies the seed of growth.

The greatest victory is defeat.

The majority is never right. Never, I tell you! That’s one of these lies in society that no free and intelligent man can help rebelling against. Who are the people that make up the biggest proportion of the population — the intelligent ones or the fools?

Money brings you food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; acquaintances, but not friends.

To die in agony upon a cross Does not create a martyr; he must first Will his own execution.

I’m plotting revolution against this lie that the majority has a monopoly of the truth. What are these truths that always bring the majority rallying round? Truths so elderly they are practically senile. And when a truth is as old as that, gentlemen, you can hardly tell it from a lie.

The strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone.

I go to scale the Future’s possibilities! Farewell!

That is the accursed thing about small surroundings — they make the soul small.

Home life ceases to be free and beautiful as soon as it is founded on borrowing and debt.

A thousand words can’t make the mark a single deed will leave.

It is no use lying to one’s self.

Everything I touch seems destined to turn into something mean and farcical.

I don’t imagine you will dispute the fact that at present the stupid people are in an absolutely overwhelming majority all the world over.

Do you know what we are those of us who count as pillars of society? We are society’s tools, neither more nor less.

The majority is always wrong; the minority is rarely right.

When a thing has been said and said well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it.

An intellectual is a man who takes more words than necessary to tell more than he knows.

I’m up to my ears in unwritten words.

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice.

What is lofty can be said in any language. What is mean should be said in none.

Be still when you have nothing to say; when genuine passion moves you, say what you’ve got to say, and say it hot.

Compromise and tolerance are magic words. It took me 40 years to become philosophical.

Your words were cold. I felt them as they crashed through my bones.