Thought precedes action as lighting does thunder.

The butterfly long loved the beautiful rose, And flirted around all day; While round him in turn with her golden caress, Soft fluttered the sun's warm ray.... I know not with whom the rose was in love, But I know that I loved them all. The butterfly, rose, and the sun's bright ray, The star and the bird's sweet call.

It is only kindred griefs that draw forth our tears, and each weeps really for himself.

Lo, sleep is good, better is death--in sooth The best of all were never to be born.

Society is a republic. When an individual endeavors to lift himself above his fellows, he is dragged down by the mass, either by means of ridicule or of calumny. No one shall be more virtuous or more intellectually gifted than others. Whoever, by the irresistable force of genius, rises above the common herd is certain to be ostracized by society, which will pursue him with such merciless derision and detraction that at last he will be compelled to retreat into the solitude of his thoughts.

Music played at weddings always reminds me of the music played for soldiers before they go into battle.

The sea appears all golden. Beneath the sun-lit sky.