... a waste-book.

Out of an exaggerated care to avoid a disaster you do precisely that which brings one down upon you, whereas if you had done nothing you would certainly have been safe: this is one of the most annoying of situations to be in. For in addition to the unpleasantness of the thing itself you have also the mortification of self-reproach and of having made yourself ludicrous in the eyes of others. I have seen someone smash a valuable vase by trying to move it from where it had been standing quietly for at least six months simply because he was afraid it might one day be accidentally knocked over.

—Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, The Waste Books, K54, translated by R. J. Hollingdale.

... a philosopher.

Without too much you cannot have enough, of anything. Lots of inferior books, lots of bad statues, lots of dull speeches, of tenth-rate men and women, as a condition of the few precious specimens in either kind being realized!

—William James, A Pluralistic Universe, 143.

... an aphorism.

Children are entertaining because they are easily entertained.

—Hugo von Hofmannsthal, The Book of Friends.

... a closet drama.

Clergyman: Why did you take your own life?
Katrin: Because I lost my curiosity.

—Max Frisch, Triptych, Second Panel.