Character is determined more by the lack of certain experiences than by those one has had.

A strong and well-constituted man digests his experiences (deeds and misdeeds all included) just as he digests his meats, even when he has some tough morsels to swallow.

The good men of every age are those who go to the roots of the old thoughts and bear fruit with them.

Ultimately, nobody can get more out of things, including books that he already knows. For what one lacks access to from experience one will have no ear.

It quite often happens that the old man is subject to the delusion of a great moral renewal and rebirth, and from this experience he passes judgments on the work and course of his life, as if he had only now become clear-sighted; and yet the inspiration behind this feeling of well-being and these confident judgements is not wisdom, but weariness .

A man far oftener appears to have a decided character from persistently following his temperament than from persistently following his principles.