The Bet

The State is not God. It has no right to take away that which it cannot give back, if it should so desire.

It is true I have not seen the earth nor men, but in your books I have drunk fragrant wine, I have sung songs, I have hunted stags and wild boars in the forests, have loved women ... Beauties as ethereal as clouds, created by the magic of your poets and geniuses, have visited me at night, and have whispered in my ears wonderful tales that have set my brain in a whirl. In your books I have climbed to the peaks of Elburz and Mont Blanc, and from there I have seen the sun rise and have watched it at evening flood the sky, the ocean, and the mountain-tops with gold and crimson. I have watched from there the lightning flashing over my head and cleaving the storm-clouds. I have seen green forests, fields, rivers, lakes, towns. I have heard the singing of the sirens, and the strains of the shepherds' pipes; I have touched the wings of comely devils who flew down to converse with me of God ... In your books I have flung myself into the bottomless pit, performed miracles, slain, burned towns, preached new religions, conquered whole kingdoms ...

You may be proud, wise, and fine, but death will wipe you off the face of the earth as though you were no more than mice burrowing under the floor, and your posterity, your history, your immortal geniuses will burn or freeze together with the earthly globe

It seemed strange to the banker that a man who in four years had mastered six hundred learned volumes should waste nearly a year over one thin book easy of comprehension.

The geniuses of all ages and countries speak in different languages; but in them all burns the same flame.

I have touched the wings of comely devils who flew down to converse with me of God.

the death of that man!

books on chemistry, and a manual of medicine, and a novel, and some treatise on philosophy or theology.

And tobacco spoilt the air of his room.

poison your whole existence in prison.

voluntary confinement is a great deal harder to bear than compulsory.

It has not the right to take away what it cannot restore when it wants to.

drags the life out of you in the course of many years?