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.

Nevertheless the passions, whether violent or not, should never be so expressed as to reach the point of causing disgust; read more

Nevertheless the passions, whether violent or not, should never be so expressed as to reach the point of causing disgust; and music, even in situations of the greatest horror, should never be painful to the ear but should flatter and charm it, and thereby always remain music.

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.

What the public wants is the image of passion, not passion itself.

What the public wants is the image of passion, not passion itself.

Love is an alliance of friendship and animalism; if the former predominates it is passion exalted and refined; if the read more

Love is an alliance of friendship and animalism; if the former predominates it is passion exalted and refined; if the latter, gross and sensual.

Give me that man
That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
In my heart's read more

Give me that man
That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart,
As I do thee.

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.

Difference of object does not alter singleness of passion. It
merely intensifies it. We can have but one great read more

Difference of object does not alter singleness of passion. It
merely intensifies it. We can have but one great experience at
best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as
often as possible.

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.