It was lovely, and tempting, to exert power over men and to shine before others, but power also had its perditions and perils.
It is stupidity rather than courage to refuse to recognise danger when it is close upon you.
It is better to be fervent in spirit, even if one accordingly makes more mistakes, than narrow-minded and overly cautious.[Beter is te zijn vurig van geest al begaat men dan ook meer fouten, dan bekrompen en al te voorzigtig.]
Is there anything more dangerous than sympathetic understanding?
I have, indeed, no abhorrence of danger, except in its absolute effect – in terror.
Humans only become dangerous when they have nothing to lose.
Great perils have this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers.[Les grands périls ont cela de beau qu’ils mettent en lumière la fraternité des inconnus.]
Great passions are hopeless diseases. That which could cure them is the first thing to make them really dangerous.
Fools and wise folk are alike harmless. It is the half-wise, and the half-foolish, who are the most dangerous.
Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver, but less daring.
Fame is a bee. It has a song – It has a sting – Ah, too, it has a wing.
Everything is dangerous, my dear fellow. If it wasn’t so, life wouldn’t be worth living…
