Quotes About Reflection

Tentamos achar nas coisas, que por isso nos são preciosas, o reflexo que nossa alma projetou sobre elas, e desiludimo-nos ao verificar que as coisas parecem desprovidas, na natureza, do encanto que deviam, em nosso pensamento, à vizinhança de certas ideias.

The need to speak prevents one not merely from listening but from seeing things, and in this case the absence of any description of my external surroundings is tantamount to a description of my internal state.

A good book is the precious life-blood of a master spirit?

In yonder nether world where shall I seek His bright appearances or footstep trace? For though I fled him angry, yet recalled To life prolonged and promised race I now Gladly behold though but His utmost skirts Of glory, and far off His steps adore.

Firm they might have stood, yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.

The mind is its own place, and in it self Can

The wary fiend stood on the brink of hell, pondering his voyage

Solitude sometimes is the best society.

When Alexander saw the breadth of his domain he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer. - Milton.

This is Old Age; but then, thou must outlive Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty; which will change 540 To withered, weak, and gray; thy senses then, Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego, To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth, Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign A melancholy damp of cold and dry 545 To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume The balm of life.

Now conscience wakes despair That slumbered, wakes the bitter memory Of what he was, what is, and what must be Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.

But past who can recall, or don undoe? Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate

For solitude sometimes is best society and short retirement urges sweet return.

Was I to have never parted from thy side? As good have grown there still a lifeless rib. Paradise Lost, Book IX, l. 1154

Beholding the bright countenance of truth in the quiet and still air of delightful studies.

However, many books, Wise men have said, are wearisome; who reads Incessantly, and to his reading brings not A spirit and judgment equal or superior, (And what he brings what needs he elsewhere seek?) Uncertain and unsettled still remains, Deep-versed in books and shallow in himself, Crude or intoxicate, collecting toys And trifles for choice matters, worth a sponge, As children gathering pebbles on the shore.

I felt memories rising to the surface like a corpse coming up from dark water.

Not blind opposition to progress,but opposition to blind progress...

Yet how hard most people work for mere dust and ashes and care, taking no thought of growing in knowledge and grace, never having time to get in sight of their own ignorance.

One day's exposure to mountains is better than a cartload of books.

One should go to the woods for safety, if for nothing else.

Wander a whole summer if you can...time will not be taken from the sum of your life. Instead of shortening, it will definitely lengthen it and make you truly immortal.

I ran home in the moonlight with firm strides; for the sun-love made me strong.

And into the woods I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.