Life is an apprenticeship to the constant renunciations, to the steady failure of our claims, our hopes, our powers, our liberty. — Henri Frederic Amiel Apprenticeship Copy Share Image
Latent genius is but a presumption. Everything that can be, is bound to come into being, and what never comes into being… — Henri Frederic Amiel Bounds Copy Share Image
Never to tire, never to grow cold; to be patient, sympathetic, tender; to look for the budding flower and the opening heart;… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
The spirit of sarcasm lives and thrives in the midst of universal wreck; its balls are enchanted and itself invulnerable, and it… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
Wisdom consists in rising superior both to madness and to common sense, and is lending oneself to the universal illusion without becoming… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
Faith is certitude without proofs ... Faith is a sentiment, for it is a hope; it is an instinct, for it precedes… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
The soul may be immortal because she is fitted to rise towards that which is neither born nor dies, towards that which… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
At the bottom of the modern man there is always a great thirst for self-forgetfulness, self-distraction . . . and therefore he… — Henri Frederic Amiel Abyss Copy Share Image
Our dependence outweighs our independence, for we are independent only in our desire, while we are dependent on our health, on nature,… — Henri Frederic Amiel Dependence Copy Share Image
Philosophy means the complete liberty of the mind, and therefore independence of all social, political or religious prejudice... It loves one thing… — Henri Frederic Amiel Freedom Copy Share Image
Obstinacy is will asserting itself without being able to justify itself. It is persistence without a reasonable motive. It is the tenacity… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
The tragic solemnity of existence strikes us with terrible force on that morning when we wake to find the mournful words "too… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
The more a man loves, the more he suffers. The sum of possible grief for each soul is in proportion to its… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
Nothing finite is true, is interesting, is worthy to fix my attention. All that is particular is exclusive, and all that is… — Henri Frederic Amiel Attention Copy Share Image
Learn to limit yourself; to content yourself with some definite work; dare to be what you are and learn to resign with… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
The test of every religious, political, or educational system, is the man which it forms. If a system injures the intelligence it… — Henri Frederic Amiel Character Copy Share Image
We are always making God our accomplice, that so we may legalize our own iniquities. Every successful massacre is consecrated by a… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
To do easily what is difficult for others is the mark of talent. To do what is impossible for talent is the… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
Let us be true: this is the highest maxim of art and of life, the secret of eloquence and of virtue, and… — Henri Frederic Amiel Art Copy Share Image
The philosopher aspires to explain away all mysteries, to dissolve them into light. Mystery, on the other hand, is demanded and pursued… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm… — Henri Frederic Amiel Copy Share Image
Each bud flowers but once and each flower has but its minute of perfect beauty; so, in the garden of the soul… — Henri Frederic Amiel Beauty Copy Share Image
