Max Nordau Quotes

Civilization is built on a number of ultimate principles ... respect for human life, the punishment of crimes against property and persons, the equality of all good citizens before the law ... or, in a word justice.

Degenerates are not always criminals, prostitutes, anarchists and pronounced lunatics; they are often authors and artists

Hysteria and degeneration have always existed; but they formerly showed themselves sporadically, and had no importance in the life of the whole community. It was only the vast fatigue which was experienced by the generation on which the multitudes of discoveries and innovations burst abruptly, imposing on it organic exigencies greatly surpassing its strength, which created favourable conditions under which these maladies could gain ground enormously, and become a danger to civilization.

If I despised myself, it would be no compensation if everyone saluted me, and if I respect myself, it does not trouble me if others hold me lightly.

It is well to be alone. It fertilizes the creative impulse.

The artist writes, paints, sings or dances the burden of some idea or feeling off his mind.

The first condition a community should set, if it aspires to be a nation, is to own the land whereon it lives, and supply its own needs.

Let me tell you the following words as if I were showing you the rungs of a ladder leading upward and upward: Herzl; the Zionist Congress; the English Uganda proposition; the future world war; the peace conference where with the help of England a free and Jewish Palestine will be created.