If the desire is not a characteristic of the highest humanity, at least it is consistent with it."[30] "I cannot admit that," I answered.

"First of all, let us leave Shakespeare out of the question, or I should have to ask you for proofs of his guilt, and there are none.

About the others there is this to be said, it is not by imitating the vices and weaknesses of great men that we shall get to their level.

And suppose we are fated to climb above them, then their weaknesses are to be dreaded.
"I have not even tried to put the strongest reasons before you; I should have thought your own mind would have supplied them; but surely you see that the historical argument is against you.

This vice of yours is dropping out of life, like cannibalism: it is no longer a practice of the highest races.