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Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers.
Henri Frederic Amiel
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Henri Frederic Amiel
Age: 59 †
Born: 1821
Born: September 27
Died: 1881
Died: May 11
Diarist
Literary Critic
Philosopher
Poet
Translator
University Teacher
Writer
Genève
Henri-Frederic Amiel
Henri Frédéric Amiel
Responsibility
Desire
Power
Desires
Life
Powers
Useful
According
Ambition
Duty
More quotes by Henri Frederic Amiel
Time is but the measure of the difficulty of a conception. Pure thought has scarcely any need of time, since it perceives the two ends of an idea almost at the same moment.
Henri Frederic Amiel
The test of every religious, political, or educational system is the man that it forms.
Henri Frederic Amiel
I am a spectator, so to speak, of the molecular whirlwind which men call individual life I am conscious of an incessant metamorphosis, an irresistible movement of existence, which is going on within me - and this phenomenology of myself serves as a window opened upon the mystery of the world.
Henri Frederic Amiel
In every loving woman there is a priestess of the past
Henri Frederic Amiel
To know where one is going and what one wishes - this is order ... to organize one's life to distribute one's time ... all this belong to and is included in the word order.
Henri Frederic Amiel
Only evil grows of itself, while for goodness we want effort and courage.
Henri Frederic Amiel
Heroism is the brilliant triumph of the soul over the flesh - over fear...Heroism is the dazzling and glorious concentration of courage.
Henri Frederic Amiel
The ideal, after all, is true than the real: for the ideal is the eternal element in perishable things.
Henri Frederic Amiel
The growth and development of the soul is more important than power and glory.
Henri Frederic Amiel
Truth above all, even when it upsets us and overwhelms us.
Henri Frederic Amiel
Great men are true men, the men in whom nature has succeeded. They are not extraordinary - they are in the true order. It is the other species of men who are not what they ought to be.
Henri Frederic Amiel
I do not deny the rights of democracy, but I have no illusions as to the uses that will be made of those rights so long as wisdom is rare and pride abundant
Henri Frederic Amiel
We are always making God our accomplice, that so we may legalize our own iniquities. Every successful massacre is consecrated by a Te Deum, and the clergy have never been wanting in benedictions for any victorious enormity.
Henri Frederic Amiel
There is no respect for others without humility in one's self.
Henri Frederic Amiel
A belief is not true simply because it is useful.
Henri Frederic Amiel
The laws of animality govern almost the whole of history.
Henri Frederic Amiel
We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented with ourselves. The consciousness of wrong-doing makes us irritable, and our heart, in its cunning, quarrels with what is outside it, in order that it may deafen the clamor within.
Henri Frederic Amiel
Action and faith enslave thought, both of them in order not be troubled or inconvenienced by reflection, criticism, and doubt.
Henri Frederic Amiel
Mother of Marvels, mysterious and tender Nature, why do we not live more in thee.
Henri Frederic Amiel
Put personal ambition away from you, and then you will find consolation in living or in dying, whatever may happen to you.
Henri Frederic Amiel
