Once my fancy was soothed with dreams of virtue, of fame, and of enjoyment. Once I falsely hoped to meet with beings, who, pardoning my outward form, would love me for the excellent qualities which I was capable of bringing forth.
Revenge! – the word seemed balm to me; I hugged it, caressed it, till, like a serpent, it stung me.
I learned that there was but one means to overcome the sensation of pain, and that was death.
But is it not a duty to the survivors, that we should refrain from augmenting their unhappiness by an appearance of immoderate grief?
Learn from me, dear lady, to submit in patience to the will of heaven!
Sometimes, on the very brink of certainty, I failed; yet still I clung to the hope which the next day or the next hour might realise.
Intr-adevar, nimic nu ajuta mai mult la linistirea cugetului decat un tel neabatut – un punct asupra caruia sa isi poata atinti privirea ochiul sufletului.
Even broken in spirit as he is, no one can feel more deeply than he does the beauties of nature. The starry sky, the sea, and every sight afforded by these wonderful regions seem still to have the power of elevating his soul from earth. Such a man has a double existence: he may suffer misery and be overwhelmed by disappointments, yet when he has retired into himself, he will be like a celestial spirit that has a halo around him, within whose circle no grief or folly ventures.
O, daca macar o singura voce m-ar imbarbata soptindu-mi ca am dreptate! Curajul si hotararea mea sunt neabatute, dar sperantele se clatina si sufletul imi sta adesea in cumpana. Sunt pe cale de a porni intr-o calatorie lunga si grea si voi avea nevoie de toata indrazneala si taria pentru a invinge restristile. Va trebui nu numai sa-i imbarbatez pe ceilalti cand vor sovai, ci uneori si pe mine insumi.
If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken.
I was guiltless, but I had indeed drawn down a horrible curse upon my head, as mortal as that of crime.
No one could better enjoy liberty, yet no one could submit with more grace than she did to constraint and caprice.
After days and nights of incredible labour and fatigue, I succeeded in discovering the cause of generation and life; nay, more, I.
A human being in perfection ought.
If I should be engaged, I will at least make notes.
Like one who, on a lonely road, Doth walk in fear and dread, And, having once turned round, walks on, And turns no more his head; Because he knows a frightful fiend Doth close behind him tread. Continuing thus, I came at length opposite to the inn at which the various diligences and carriages usually stopped.
Prepare! your toils only begin: wrap yourself in furs, and provide food, for we shall soon enter upon a journey where your sufferings will satisfy my everlasting hatred.
Inspirited by this wind of promise, my daydreams become more fervent and vivid.
Clerval desired the intercourse of the men.
Heaven shower down blessings on you, and save me, that I may again and again testify my gratitude for all your love and kindness.
If I have no ties and no affections, hatred and vice must be my portion; the love of another will destroy the cause of my crimes.