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.

If we resist our passions it is more from their weakness than
from our strength.

If we resist our passions it is more from their weakness than
from our strength.

He will hold thee, when his passion shall have spent its novel
force,
Something better than his dog, read more

He will hold thee, when his passion shall have spent its novel
force,
Something better than his dog, a little dearer than his horse.

I simple cannot understand the passion that some people have for making themselves thoroughly uncomfortable and then boasting about it read more

I simple cannot understand the passion that some people have for making themselves thoroughly uncomfortable and then boasting about it afterwards.

Search then the ruling passion; there alone,
The wild are constant, and the cunning known;
The fool read more

Search then the ruling passion; there alone,
The wild are constant, and the cunning known;
The fool consistent, and the false sincere;
Priests, princes, women, no dissemblers here.

From their experience or from the recorded experience of others (history), men learn only what their passions and their metaphysical read more

From their experience or from the recorded experience of others (history), men learn only what their passions and their metaphysical prejudices allow them to learn.

It is easier to exclude harmful passions than to rule them, and to deny them admittance than to control them read more

It is easier to exclude harmful passions than to rule them, and to deny them admittance than to control them after they have been admitted.

Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.

Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.

When the habitually even-tempered suddenly fly into a passion, that explosion is apt to be more impressive than the outburst read more

When the habitually even-tempered suddenly fly into a passion, that explosion is apt to be more impressive than the outburst of the most violent amongst us.