This life of earth, whatever my attire, Would pain me in its wonted fashion. Too old am I to play with passion; Too young, to be without desire.
The highest achievement of the human being as a thinking being is to have probed what is knowable and quietly to revere what is unknowable.
I have made all sorts of acquaintances, but have as yet found no society. I know not what attraction I possess for the people, so many of them like me, and attach themselves to me; and then I feel sorry when the road we pursue together goes only a short distance.
Age doesn’t make us childish, as they say, It finds that we’re still children.
But when, in spite of weakness and disappointments, we set to work in earnest, and persevere steadily, we often find, that, though obliged continually to tack, we make more way than others who have the assistance of wind and tide; and, in truth, there can be no greater satisfaction than to keep pace with others or outstrip them in the race.
I take the wildering whirl, enjoyment’s keenest pain, Enamored hate, exhilarant disdain.
Jupiter’s welcome to more from his Juno if he can get it.
We human bekngsoften complain that there are so few good days and so many bad ones; but I think we are generally wrong. If our hearts were always open to enjoy the good, which God gives us Every day, then we should also have enough strength to hear the evil, whenever it comes.
Ask whomever you will but you’ll never find out where I’m lodging.
Surely the gestures of murmuring priests must contain some deep meaning.
If I’m to listen to someone else’s opinion, it must be put in a positive way; I have enough problematic speculations in my own head.
Sage Deinem Hauptmann, er kann mich im Arsche lecken.
I could lead the best, the happiest life if I wasn’t a fool.
El hombre desea mucho y necesita poco, vista la brevedad de su vida.
El diablo es viejo; envejeced, pues, para comprenderlo.
Thou, Spirit of the Earth, art nearer: Even now my powers are loftier, clearer; I glow, as drunk with new-made wine: New strength and heart to meet the world incite me, The woe of earth, the bliss of earth, invite me, And though the shock of storms may smite me, No crash of shipwreck shall have power to fright me!
Each person, the most worthy as well as the most despicable, carries around a secret which would make her hateful to everyone else if it became known.
There is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans, that the moment one definitely commits oneself that Providence moves, too. Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.
Now and then the fable of the horse recurs to me. Weary of liberty, he suffered himself to be saddled and bridled, and was ridden to death for his pains.
Moreover I hate everything which merely instructs me without increasing or directly quickening my activity.