Everyone is deceived in his hopes, cheated in his expectations.

As beauteous is the world, and many a joy Floats through its wide dominion. But, alas, When we would seize the winged good, it flies.

Nothing is more consonant with Nature than that she puts into operation in the smallest detail that which she intends as a whole.

Thou must (in commanding and winning, or serving and losing, suffering or triumphing) be either anvil or hammer.

It is not given to us to grasp the truth, which is identical with the divine, directly. We perceive it only in reflection, in example and symbol, in singular and related appearances. It meets us as a kind of life which is incomprehensible to us, and yet we cannot free ourselves from the desire to comprehend it.

He who possesses art and science has religion; he who does not possess them, needs religion.

Our senses don't deceive us: our judgment does