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In life there is nothing more unexpected and surprising than the arrivals and departures of pleasure. If we find it in one place today, it is vain to seek it there tomorrow. You can not lay a trap for it.

Alexander Smith

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Alexander Smith
Age: 36 †
Born: 1830
Born: December 31
Died: 1867
Died: January 5
Poet
Cille Mheàrnaig
Pleasure
Trap
Place
Traps
Today
Surprising
Find
Unexpected
Nothing
Vain
Life
Lays
Departures
Seek
Arrivals
Tomorrow
Departure

More quotes by Alexander Smith

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I go into my library, and all history unrolls before me. I breathe the morning air of the world while the scent of Eden's roses yet lingered in it, while it vibrated only to the world's first brood of nightingales, and to the laugh of Eve. I see the pyramids building I hear the shoutings of the armies of Alexander.
Alexander Smith
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There is a certain even-handed justice in Time and for what he takes away he gives us something in return. He robs us of elasticity of limb and spirit, and in its place he brings tranquility and repose—the mild autumnal weather of the soul.
Alexander Smith
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Death is the ugly fact which Nature has to hide, and she hides it well.
Alexander Smith
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There is nothing good in this world which time does not improve.
Alexander Smith
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In my garden I spend my days in my library I spend my nights.
Alexander Smith
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A man does not plant a tree for himself he plants it for posterity.
Alexander Smith
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The greatness of an artist or a writer does not depend on what he has in common with other artists and writers, but on what he has peculiar to himself.
Alexander Smith
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The only thing a man knows is himself.
Alexander Smith
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Men praise poverty, as the African worships Mumbo Jumbo--from terror of the malign power, and a desire to propitiate at.
Alexander Smith
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Trees are your best antiques
Alexander Smith
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A bottomless pit of violence, a Tower of Babel where all are speakers and no hearers.
Alexander Smith
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Death, which we are accustomed to consider an evil, really acts for us the friendliest part, and takes away the commonplace of existence.
Alexander Smith
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We bury love Forgetfulness grows over it like grass: That is a thing to weep for, not the dead.
Alexander Smith
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If we were to live here always, with no other care than how to feed, clothe, and house ourselves, life would be a very sorry business. It is immeasurably heightened by the solemnity of death.
Alexander Smith
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Pleasure has no logic it never treads in its own footsteps.
Alexander Smith
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Not on the stage alone, in the world also, a man's real character comes out best in his asides.
Alexander Smith
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A brave soul is a thing which all things serve.
Alexander Smith
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We have two lives The soul of man is like the rolling world, One half in day, the other dipt in night The one has music and the flying cloud, The other, silence and the wakeful stars.
Alexander Smith
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In winter, when the dismal rain Comes down in slanting lines, And Wind, that grand old harper, smote His thunder-harp of pines.
Alexander Smith
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A man gazing at the stars is proverbially at the mercy of the puddles in the road.
Alexander Smith