It is necessary to work, if not from inclination, at least from despair. Everything considered, work is less boring than read more

It is necessary to work, if not from inclination, at least from despair. Everything considered, work is less boring than amusing oneself.

Above all, we must abolish hope in the heart of man. A calm despair, without angry convulsions, without reproaches to read more

Above all, we must abolish hope in the heart of man. A calm despair, without angry convulsions, without reproaches to Heaven, is the essence of wisdom.

The world goes whispering to its own,
"This anguish pierces to the bone;"
And tender friends go read more

The world goes whispering to its own,
"This anguish pierces to the bone;"
And tender friends go sighing round,
"What love can ever cure this wound?"
My days go on, my days go on.

Despair is the damp of hell, as joy is the serenity of heaven

Despair is the damp of hell, as joy is the serenity of heaven

Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest spirit
That fought in heaven, now fiercer by despair.

Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest spirit
That fought in heaven, now fiercer by despair.

Thus repuls'd, our final hope
Is flat despair.

Thus repuls'd, our final hope
Is flat despair.

Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, read more

Despair is the price one pays for setting oneself an impossible aim. It is, one is told, the unforgivable sin, but it is a sin the corrupt or evil man never practices. He always has hope. He never reaches the freezing-point of knowing absolute failure. Only the man of goodwill carries always in his heart this capacity for damnation.

Despair is a great incentive to honorable death.
[Lat., Desperatio magnum ad honeste moriendum incitamentum.]

Despair is a great incentive to honorable death.
[Lat., Desperatio magnum ad honeste moriendum incitamentum.]

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation ... A stereotyped but read more

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation ... A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind.