Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron read more

Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth it's spark.

In men, we various ruling passions find;
In women two almost divide the kind;
Those only fix'd, read more

In men, we various ruling passions find;
In women two almost divide the kind;
Those only fix'd, they first or last obey.
The love of pleasure, and the love of sway.

He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.

He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.

The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his read more

The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.

Life is action and passion; therefore it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action read more

Life is action and passion; therefore it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of the time, at peril of being judged not to have lived.

And beauty, for confiding youth,
Those shocks of passion can prepare
That kill the bloom before its read more

And beauty, for confiding youth,
Those shocks of passion can prepare
That kill the bloom before its time,
And blanch, without the owner's crime,
The most resplendent hair.

When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.

When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.

Our passions are like convulsion fits, which, though they make us stronger for the time, leave us the weaker ever read more

Our passions are like convulsion fits, which, though they make us stronger for the time, leave us the weaker ever after.

Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.
These are read more

Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.
These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope,
They do not point on me.