One often contradicts an opinion when what is uncongenial is really the tone in which it was conveyed. Family love is messy, clinging, and of an annoying and repetitive pattern, like bad wallpaper. The Christian resolution to find the world ugly and bad has made the world ugly and bad. He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you. It is hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them! How much truth can a spirit bear, how much truth can a spirit dare? ... that became for me more and more the real measure of value. On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow. Every extension of knowledge arises from making the conscious the unconscious. In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations, and epochs it is the rule. Wisdom sets bounds even to knowledge. | 
