I stood
Among them, but not of them: in a shroud
Of thoughts which were not their read more

I stood
Among them, but not of them: in a shroud
Of thoughts which were not their thoughts.

Thought is borne of failure.

Thought is borne of failure.

With curious art the brain, too finely wrought,
Preys on herself, and is destroyed by thought.

With curious art the brain, too finely wrought,
Preys on herself, and is destroyed by thought.

No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought read more

No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous.

The first thought is often the best.
- Bishop Joseph Butler,

The first thought is often the best.
- Bishop Joseph Butler,

First thoughts are not always the best.
[It., Sempre il miglior non e il parer primiero.]

First thoughts are not always the best.
[It., Sempre il miglior non e il parer primiero.]

What exile from himself can flee?
To zones, though more and more remote,
Still, still pursues, where'er read more

What exile from himself can flee?
To zones, though more and more remote,
Still, still pursues, where'er I be,
The blight of life--the demon Thought.

A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labour and an invisible labour.

A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labour and an invisible labour.

Original thoughts can be understood only in virtue of the
unoriginal elements which they contain.

Original thoughts can be understood only in virtue of the
unoriginal elements which they contain.