I was taught that I had to 'master' subjects. But who can 'master' beauty, or peace, or joy?

You can only see one thing clearly, and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that, and cling to it through thick and thin.

Before you begin a thing, remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead. If you could see them clearly, naturally you could do a great deal to get rid of them but you can't. You can only see one thing clearly and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin.

Poets and monks... We're both sort of peripheral to the world.

I was taught that I had to 'master' subjects. But who can 'master' beauty, or peace, or joy?

The High Plains, the beginning of the desert West, often act as a crucible for those who inhabit them.

When you are unhappy, is there anything more maddening than to be told that you should be contented with your lot?