Quotes About Understanding

...after having read for twelve months what these critics say I meant to say in the poem, it seems to me that I may be allowed to express my own opinion...

I don't mind adverse criticism. It doesn't matter if I'm misinterpreted because not everyone will understand what I'm trying to say.

Because those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh either.

Mothers and daughters are closest, when daughters become mothers.

When Ideas float in our Mind, without any Reflection or Regard of the Understanding, it is that, which the French call Reverie; our Language has scarce a Name for it...

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.

An old dog, even more than an old spouse, always feels like doing what you feel like doing.

The wise man keeps on good terms with his wife, his conscience, and his stomach.

Hanging my head and my heart with it, that you sorrowed alone...

Before God we are relatively all equally wise — equally foolish.

There is so much good in the worst of us, And so much bad in the best of us, That it ill behooves any of us To find fault with the rest of us.

Your letter of excuses has arrived. I receive the letter, but do not admit the excuses, except in courtesy; as when a man treads on your toes and begs your pardon, the pardon is granted, but the joint aches, especially if there is a corn upon it.

It is quite true what Philosophy says: that Life must be understood backwards. But that makes one forget the other saying: that it must be lived — forwards.

Who then can so softly bind up the wound of another as he who has felt the same wound himself?

[F]atherhood means... self-suppression and patient understanding and intelligent toleration. A little questioning, a little experimenting, a bit of experience and the growth goes forward. One of the recompenses of fatherhood is the absurd pride and gentle humility that grows out of the process. The fledgling has beaten you at your own game and while you squirm a warm glow fills your heart and a delighted grin spreads from brow to chin, from ear to ear.

Have cognition before ignition.

He who forgives ends the quarrel.

And I call to mankind, Be not curious about God, For I, who am curious about each, am not curious about God, No array of terms can say how much I am at peace about God, and about death. I hear and behold God in every object, yet understand God not in the least...

Some people talk about finding God — as if He could get lost.

What is told in the ear of a man is often heard a hundred miles away.

Don't let your hatred gossip.

Sorrow makes us all children again, — destroys all differences of intellect. The wisest knows nothing.

Most of us believe in trying to make other people happy only if they can be happy in ways which we approve.

I also came to see that the price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.