Because we have for millenia ...

Because we have for millenia made moral, aesthetic, religious demands on the world, looked upon it with blind desire, passion or fear, and abandoned ourselves to the bad habits of illogical thinking, this world has gradually become so marvelously variegated, frightful, meaningful, soulful, it has acquired color - but we have been the colorists: it is the human intellect that has made appearances appear and transported its erroneous basic conceptions into things.
Because we have for millenia made moral, aesthetic, religious demands on the world, looked upon it with blind desire, passion or fear, and abandoned ourselves to the bad habits of illogical thinking, this world has gradually become so marvelously variegated, frightful, meaningful, soulful, it has acquired color - but we have been the colorists: it is the human intellect that has made appearances appear and transported its erroneous basic conceptions into things.

Quotes from the same author

Rejoicing in our joy, not suffering over our suffering, makes someone a friend.
You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.
Love is blind; friendship closes its eyes.
We love life, not because we are used to living but because we are used to loving.
The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends.