And you know, there's less charm in life when you think about death--but it's more peaceful.

The appreciation of the merits of art (of the emotions it conveys) depends upon an understanding of the meaning of life...

it is hard for anyone who is dissatisfied not to blame some one else, and especially the person nearest of all to him, for the ground of his dissatisfaction.

… for nightinggales - we know - can’t live on fairytales.

But that's just the aim of civilization - to make everything a source of enjoyment.

There are people who, on meeting a successful rival, no matter in what, are at once disposed to turn their backs on everything good in him, and to see only what is bad. There are people, on the other hand, who desire above all to find in that lucky rival the qualities by which he has outstripped them, and seek with a throbbing ache at heart only what is good.

It is within my power either to serve God or not to serve Him. Serving Him, I add to my own good and the good of the whole world. Not serving Him, I forfeit my own good and deprive the world of that good, which was in my power to create.