Quotes

We can have in life but one great experience at best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as often as possible.

Do not yearn in desire toward it, but wait till it reaches you.

Every act rewards itself, or, in other words, integrates itself, in a twofold manner; first, in the thing, or in real nature; and secondly, in the circumstance, or in apparent nature.

The vain fears and fond jealousies, the winds which fan the flame of love, when judiciously or artfully tempered, are both incompatible with the tender confidence and sincere respect of friendship.

The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work.

Let not thy mind wander up and down, and heap together in her thoughts the many troubles and grievous calamities which thou art as subject unto as any other.

For in truth it is life that gives unto life--while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

I love man as my fellow; but his sceptre real or usurped, extends not to me, unless the reason of an individual demands my homage; and even then the submission is to reason, and not to man.

The only conscience we can trust to is the massive sense of wrong in a class, and the best wisdom that will work is the wisdom of balancing claims.

Therefore, at the same time that we lie, we are very ready to show how it is demonstrated that lying is wrong.

Therefore the sage manages affairs without doing anything, and conveys his instructions without the use of speech.

We have built for this world a family mansion, and for the next a family tomb.

Sorrow is hushed into peace in my heart like the evening among the silent trees.

There are, however, times when I long to sweep away half the things I am expected to learn; for the overtaxed mind cannot enjoy the treasure it has secured at the greatest cost.

The singing of a man cast away upon a desolate island might be as appropriately considered as evidence of contentment and happiness, as the singing of a slave; the songs of the one and of the other are prompted by the same emotion.

To become the spectator of one’s own life, as Harry says, is to escape the suffering of life.

To a reasonable creature, the same action is both according to nature, and according to reason.

To understand nature, and follow her.