For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced read more

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are

Lay ye down the golden chain
From Heaven, and pull at its inferior links
Both Goddesses and read more

Lay ye down the golden chain
From Heaven, and pull at its inferior links
Both Goddesses and Gods.

Ah, who could have ever foretold that that little retrousse nose
would change the laws of an empire.
read more

Ah, who could have ever foretold that that little retrousse nose
would change the laws of an empire.
[Fr., Ah, qui jamais autoir pu dire
Que ce petit nez retrousse
Changerait les lois d'un empire.]

If it were in my power, I would be wiser; but a newly felt power
carries me off in read more

If it were in my power, I would be wiser; but a newly felt power
carries me off in spite of myself; love leads me one way, my
understanding another.
[Lat., Si possem sanior essem.
Sed trahit invitam nova vis; aliudque Cupido,
Mens aliud.]

The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water
flowing hidden underground, secretly making read more

The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water
flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.

The very room, coz she was in,
Seemed warm f'om floor to ceilin'.

The very room, coz she was in,
Seemed warm f'om floor to ceilin'.

There is no such thing as a good influence. Because to influence a person is to give him one's own read more

There is no such thing as a good influence. Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtures are not real to him. His sins, if there are such thing as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of someone else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him.

It is easier to influence strong than weak characters in life.

It is easier to influence strong than weak characters in life.

The strongest influences in my life and my work are always whomever I love. Whomever I love and am with read more

The strongest influences in my life and my work are always whomever I love. Whomever I love and am with most of the time, or whomever I remember most vividly. I think that's true of everyone, don't you?