Heinrich Heine Quotes

All I really want is enough to live on, a little house in the country... and a tree in the garden with seven of my enemies hanging in it.

Wherever they burn books they will also, in the end, burn human beings.

Sleep is good, death is better; but of course, the best thing would to have never been born at all.

When the heroes go off the stage, the clowns come on.

Silence is the essential condition of happiness.

I have never seen an ass who talked like a human being, but I have met many human beings who talked like asses.

The deepest truth blooms only from the deepest love.

Ask me not what I have, but what I am.

The more i get to know people, the more i like dogs.

The men of the past had convictions, while we moderns have only opinions.

We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged

Experience is a good school. But the fees are high.

God will forgive me. It's his job.

I bequeath all my property to my wife on the condition that she remarry immediately. Then there will be at least one man to regret my death.

In dark ages people are best guided by religion, as in a pitch-black night a blind man is the best guide; he knows the roads and paths better than a man who can see. When daylight comes, however, it is foolish to use blind, old men as guides.

Where words leave off, music begins.

My heart resembles the ocean; has storm, and ebb and flow; and many a beautiful pearl lies hid in its depths below.

A brainiac notices everything, an ignoramus comments about everything.

Never let a fool kiss you, or a kiss fool you. Oh, what lies there are in kisses!

Mine is a most peaceable disposition. My wishes are: a humble cottage with a thatched roof, but a good bed, good food, the freshest milk and butter, flowers before my window, and a few fine trees before my door; and if God wants to make my happiness complete, he will grant me the joy of seeing some six or seven of my enemies hanging from those trees. Before death I shall, moved in my heart, forgive them all the wrong they did me in their lifetime. One must, it is true, forgive one's enemies-- but not before they have been hanged.

There are more fools in the world than there are people.

I care little in the existence of a heaven or hell; self respect does not allow me to guide my acts with an eye toward heavenly salvation or hellish punishment. I pursue the good in life because it is beautiful and attracts me; and shun the bad because it is ugly and repulsive. All our acts should originate from the spring of unselfish love, whether there be a continuation after death or not.

Music is a strange thing. I would almost say it is a miracle. For it stands halfway between thought and phenomenon, between spirit and matter.

He only profits from praise who values criticism.

Matrimony; the high sea for which no compass has yet been invented.