Consciousness is the mere surface of our minds, of which, as of the earth, we do not know the inside, but only the crust.

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.

The majority of men... are not capable of thinking, but only of believing, and... are not accessible to reason, but only to authority.

Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.

A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; and if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free.

Man is the only animal who causes pain to others with no other object than wanting to do so.

Genius and madness have something in common: both live in a world that is different from that which exists for everyone else.

A pessimist is an optimist in full possession of the facts.

Religions are like fireflies. They require darkness in order to shine.

Nature shows that with the growth of intelligence comes increased capacity for pain, and it is only with the highest degree of intelligence that suffering reaches its supreme point.

This story was a story of our time. And a writer's attempts not to fathom his time amount but to sounding his mind in it.

Do what you love to do, and do it with both seriousness and lightness. At least then you will know that you have tried and that--whatever the outcome--you have traveled a noble path.

To get noticed, I had to take my films in a space which was much more democratic in terms of cinema - the international film festivals.

When cerebral processes enter into sports, you start screwing up. It's like the Constitution, which says separate church and state. You have to separate mind and body.

The very first email I got [was] from a women's group saying 'We don't want this stimulus package to just create jobs for burly men.'

As life becomes harder and more threatening, it also becomes richer, because the fewer expectations we have, the more good things of life become unexpected gifts that we accept with gratitude.

If people didn't give a damn, I wouldn't be in the position I'm in. I try not to lose sight of that.

Thy words are like a cloud of winged snakes.

There's a lot out there for me to learn that isn't in college, so I think it's fine for me if I don't go yet.

Call yourself and define your relationship to your chair the way you want to, or your disability the way you want to.