Every man, either to his terror or consolation, has some sense of religion. - Heinrich Heine

He who will establish himself on a certain height must yield according to circumstances, like the weather-cock on a church-spire, which, though it be made of iron, would soon be broken by the storm-wind if it remained obstinately immovable, and did not understand the noble art of turning to every wind. But a great man will never so far contradict his own feelings as to see, or, it may be, increase, with cold-blooded indifference, the misfortunes of his fellow country-men.

"Ревността наподобява повече завист, отколкото да е плод на някаква любов. А завистта е дребнав, пълзящ порок, в повечето случаи неоправдан и безпочвен. Ако има основателен повод за ревност, то тогава е излишно да се говори за любов. Само хората са толкова придирчиви. Пеперудата не пита цветето: "Друг целувал ли те е вече?". И цветето не пита: "Задиряла ли си друго цвете?

Täglich ging die wunderschöne
Sultanstochter auf und nieder
Um die Abendzeit am Springbrunn,
Wo die weißen Wasser plätschern.

Täglich stand der junge Sklave
Um die Abendzeit am Springbrunn,
Wo die weißen Wasser plätschern;
Täglich ward er bleich und bleicher.

Eines Abends trat die Fürstin
Auf ihn zu mit raschen Worten:
Deinen Namen will ich wissen,
Deine Heimath, deine Sippschaft!

Und der Sklave sprach: ich heiße
Mohamet, ich bin aus Yemmen,
Und mein Stamm sind jene Asra,
Welche sterben wenn sie lieben.