Almost in the same way as earlier physicists are said to have found suddenly that they had too little mathematical understanding to be able to master physics; we may say that young people today are suddenly in the position that ordinary common sense no longer suffices to meet the strange demands life makes. Everything has become so intricate that for its mastery an exceptional degree ofunderstanding is required. For it is not enough any longer to be able to play the game well; but the question is again and again: what sort of game is to be played now anyway? MS 118 20r: 27.8.1937

Doing this work I am in the same state as that of many people when they struggle in vain to recall a name; we say in such a case: "think of something else, then it will come to you"-- & similarly I had constantly to think of something else so that what I had long been searching for could occur to me. MS 119 108: 14.10.1937

If we use the ethnological approach does that mean we are saying philosophy is ethnology? No it only means we are taking up our position far outside, in order to see the things more objectively. MS 162b 67r: 2.7.1940

I am too soft, too weak, & so too lazy, to achieve anything important. The industry of the great is, amongst other things, a sign of their strength, quite apart from their inner wealth. MS 137 54b: 25.6.1948

Ambition is the death of thought. MS 137 135a: 27.12.1948

Philosophy hasn't made any progress? – If someone scratches where it itches, do we have to see progress? isn't it genuine scratching otherwise, or genuine itching? And can't this reaction to the irritation go on like this for a long time, before a cure for the itching is found? MS 174 10r: 1950