But when I was twelve years old I caught my first strong glimpse of one of the fundamental forces of existence, whose votary I was destined to be for life - namely, Beauty.

A love for humanity came over me, and watered and fertilised the fields of my inner world which had been lying fallow, and this love of humanity vented itself in a vast compassion.

I did not know what it was to be happy for a whole day at a time, scarcely for an hour.

Among the delights of Summer were picnics to the woods.

But I did not find any positive inspiration in my studies until I approached my nineteenth year.

I was not afraid of what I did not like. To overcome dislike of a thing often satisfied one's feeling of honour.

On the whole, the world was friendly. It chiefly depended on whether one were good or not.