Arthur Schopenhauer

“ Everything has died away around us, especially in my case, as I am ten years the older. We are living more and more in the memories of the past. In you I have one of the very few who knew me when I was young, and besides you have never lost sight of me and now bear witness that I have striven from my youth up to become what I now am, and you kindly observe, "How many try to do that and how very few succeed." ”

“ In regard to the letters and diaries of Adele, I should think you could console yourself. Any abuse of them is hardly to be feared, as they have been offered to the book dealers long ago. The flood of time sweeps over us, covers everything, and oblivion swallows it, with the exception of scattered reminiscences. ”