For in itself a thought, a slumbering thought, is capable of years, and curdles a long life into one hour.
— Lord Byron
Sorrow is knowledge, those that know the most must mourn the deepest, the tree of knowledge is not the tree of life.
I should be very willing to redress men wrongs, and rather check than punish crimes, had not Cervantes, in that all too true tale of Quixote, shown how all such efforts fail.
As long as I retain my feeling and my passion for Nature, I can partly soften or subdue my other passions and resist or endure those of others.
I know that two and two make four - and should be glad to prove it too if I could - though I must say if by any sort of process I could convert 2 and 2 into five it would give me much greater pleasure.
It is very certain that the desire of life prolongs it.
For pleasures past I do not grieve, nor perils gathering near; My greatest grief is that I leave nothing that claims a tear.
The place is very well and quiet and the children only scream in a low voice.
A mistress never is nor can be a friend. While you agree, you are lovers; and when it is over, anything but friends.
A thousand years may scare form a state. An hour may lay it in ruins.
Men are the sport of circumstances when it seems circumstances are the sport of men.
I would rather have a nod from an American, than a snuff-box from an emperor.
What is the worst of woes that wait on age? What stamps the wrinkle deeper on the brow? To view each loved one blotted from life's page, And be alone on earth, as I am now.
I cannot help thinking that the menace of Hell makes as many devils as the severe penal codes of inhuman humanity make villains.
My turn of mind is so given to taking things in the absurd point of view, that it breaks out in spite of me every now and then.
One certainly has a soul; but how it came to allow itself to be enclosed in a body is more than I can imagine. I only know if once mine gets out, I'll have a bit of a tussle before I let it get in again to that of any other.
A woman should never be seen eating or drinking, unless it be lobster salad and Champagne, the only true feminine and becoming viands.
The Cardinal is at his wit's end - it is true that he had not far to go.
Fools are my theme, let satire be my song.
Opinions are made to be changed - or how is truth to be got at?
We are all selfish and I no more trust myself than others with a good motive.
Lovers may be - and indeed generally are - enemies, but they never can be friends, because there must always be a spice of jealousy and a something of Self in all their speculations.
Between two worlds life hovers like a star, twixt night and morn, upon the horizon's verge.
This is the patent age of new inventions for killing bodies, and for saving souls. All propagated with the best intentions.
I do detest everything which is not perfectly mutual.
Who tracks the steps of glory to the grave?
There's naught, no doubt, so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion.
I have a great mind to believe in Christianity for the mere pleasure of fancying I may be damned.
America is a model of force and freedom and moderation - with all the coarseness and rudeness of its people.
Folly loves the martyrdom of fame.
It is odd but agitation or contest of any kind gives a rebound to my spirits and sets me up for a time.
Who loves, raves.
Then stirs the feeling infinite, so felt In solitude, where we are least alone.
If I could always read, I should never feel the want of company.
The busy have no time for tears.
The beginning of atonement is the sense of its necessity.
I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone.
Though sages may pour out their wisdom's treasure, there is no sterner moralist than pleasure.
Life's enchanted cup sparkles near the brim.
Where there is mystery, it is generally suspected there must also be evil.
But what is Hope? Nothing but the paint on the face of Existence; the least touch of truth rubs it off, and then we see what a hollow-cheeked harlot we have got hold of.
All who joy would win must share it. Happiness was born a Twin.
I am about to be married, and am of course in all the misery of a man in pursuit of happiness.
Her great merit is finding out mine - there is nothing so amiable as discernment.
Out of chaos God made a world, and out of high passions comes a people.
Man, being reasonable, must get drunk; the best of life is but intoxication.
Fame is the thirst of youth.
Why I came here, I know not; where I shall go it is useless to inquire - in the midst of myriads of the living and the dead worlds, stars, systems, infinity, why should I be anxious about an atom?
I have no consistency, except in politics; and that probably arises from my indifference to the subject altogether.
Men love in haste, but they detest at leisure.
