to be nobody-but-myself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make me everybody else means, read more

to be nobody-but-myself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make me everybody else means, to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.

When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old read more

When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.

In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is read more

In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest. - The Books in My Life.

My mind withdrew its thoughts from experience, extracting itself from the contradictory throng of sensuous images, that it might find read more

My mind withdrew its thoughts from experience, extracting itself from the contradictory throng of sensuous images, that it might find out what that light was wherein it was bathed.... And thus, with the flash of one hurried glance, it attained to the vision of That Which Is.

There is never a better measure of what a person is than what he does when he is absolutely free read more

There is never a better measure of what a person is than what he does when he is absolutely free to choose.

Promise is most given when the least is said.

Promise is most given when the least is said.

Thought is a dangerous thing; it makes one see that the popular notions of society are wrong.

Thought is a dangerous thing; it makes one see that the popular notions of society are wrong.

Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge shall every room be filled read more

Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge shall every room be filled with precious and pleasant riches.

But a stranger in a strange land, he is no one: men know him not-and to know not is to read more

But a stranger in a strange land, he is no one: men know him not-and to know not is to care not for.