This being busied with thoughts of immortality is for the noble classes and especially for women with nothing to do. A solid person, though, someone who already intends to be something worthy here, and who therefore has to strive daily, has to struggle and work, gives the world to come a rest.

An angel! Nonsense! Everybody so describes his mistress; and yet I find it impossible to tell you how perfect she is, or why she is so perfect: suffice it to say she has captivated all my senses.

Hatred is a heavy burden. It sinks the heart deep in the breast, and lies like a tombstone on all joys.

Because everyone uses language to talk, everyone thinks he can talk about language.

Woe to him who would ascribe something like reason to Chance, and make a religion of surrendering to it.

A vi'let on the meadow grew, That no one saw, that no one knew, It was a modest flower. A shepherdess pass'd by that way-- Light footed, pretty and so gay; That way she came, Softly warbling forth her lay.

In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm... in the real world all rests on perseverance.