If only it were God's will that printed and written materials have as much influence on the people as the princes and their censors fear! Considering the countless good books we have, the world would have changed for the better a long time ago.
Since people no longer attend church, theater remains as the only public service, and literature as the only private devotion.
The old harlot, German philosophy, has finally turned into a church lady.
Women, children, Tyroleans and preachers want to create a new kingdom of God, but the God of their kingdom looks like women, children, preachers, and Tyrolians.
What is the use of aesthetics if they can neither teach how to produce beauty nor how to appreciate it in good taste? It exists because it behooves rational human beings to provide reasons for their actions and assessments. Even if aesthetics are not the mathematics of beauty, they are the proof of the calculation.
Beauty satisfies the senses completely and at the same time uplifts the soul. That which gratifies the senses is pleasant, and that which uplifts the soul without being sensual in the least is good, true, right, anything you like, but not beautiful.
A flutist who is moved to tears by his own performance will soon make the listeners laugh because of the sounds that he produces.
Much as I honor the wisdom of the princess--there is something more dashing about a man.
Art compares to nature like wine to the grape.
Gold is the gift of vanity and common pride, but flowers are the gift of love and friendship.
Historical! Must it be historical to catch your attention? Even though historicity, like notoriety, denotes nothing more than thatsomething has occurred.
Who claims that the heathen's view of the world is incorrect? Life gives you nothing! It is ruled by false gods! Nothing remains true to you but your own self; provided you remain true to it.
The art of acting presupposes three phases: understanding a part, intuiting a part, and contemplating the essence of a part.
When we interpret nature, we refer phenomena that are rarely entirely unintelligible back to something that actually exists, but is equally unintelligible.
An uprising would punish only the country, and that is out of the question. But there is yet another approach, the most effectiveform of resistance: contemptuous compliance.
Although your knowledge is weak and small, you need not be silent: since you cannot be judges be at least witnesses.
When receiving an order, many servants repeat their "yes" numerous times, especially the lazy ones.
To enlist the support of the people and of parliament, you only have to propose a profitable villainy.
