From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not read more

From childhood's hour I have not been
As others were; I have not seen
As others saw; I could not bring
My passions from a common spring.
From the same source I have not taken
My sorrow; I could not awaken
My heart to joy at the same tone;
And all I loved, I loved alone.

There is no aphrodisiac like innocence.

There is no aphrodisiac like innocence.

What a man is ashamed of is always at bottom himself; and he is ashamed of himself at bottom always read more

What a man is ashamed of is always at bottom himself; and he is ashamed of himself at bottom always for being afraid.

Melancholy is sadness that has taken on lightness

Melancholy is sadness that has taken on lightness

When one is rising, standing, walking, doing something, stopping, one should constantly concentrate one's mind on the act and the read more

When one is rising, standing, walking, doing something, stopping, one should constantly concentrate one's mind on the act and the doing of it, not one ones' relation to the act or its character or value... One should simply practice concentration of the mind on the act itself, understanding it to be an expedient means for attaining tranquility of mind, realization, insight, and wisdom.

Man could not live if he were entirely impervious to sadness. Many sorrows can be endured only by being embraced, read more

Man could not live if he were entirely impervious to sadness. Many sorrows can be endured only by being embraced, and the pleasure taken in them naturally has a somewhat melancholy character. So, melancholy is morbid only when it occupies too much place in life; but it is equally morbid for it to be wholly excluded from life.

Life is a jest; and all things show it.
I thought so once; but now I know it.

Life is a jest; and all things show it.
I thought so once; but now I know it.

In truth, to attain to interior peace, one must be willing to pass through the contrary to peace. Such is read more

In truth, to attain to interior peace, one must be willing to pass through the contrary to peace. Such is the teaching of the Sages.

One often calms one's grief by recounting it.

One often calms one's grief by recounting it.