Quote

Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark.

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
Possibility
Latent
Passion
Spark
Force
Sparks
Give
Shock
Without
Iron
Giving
Forth
Men
Passionate
Flint
Like
Mere
Awaits

More quotes by Henri Frederic Amiel

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Tell me what you feel in your room when the full moon is shining in upon you and your lamp is dying out, and I will tell you how old you are, and I shall know if you are happy.
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Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires but according to our powers.
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To be misunderstood even by those whom one loves is the cross and bitterness of life. It is the secret of that sad and melancholy smile on the lips of great men which so few understand.
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What we do not understand we have no right to judge
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Emancipation from error is the condition of real knowledge.
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Put personal ambition away from you, and then you will find consolation in living or in dying, whatever may happen to you.
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Nothing is more characteristic of a man than the manner in which he behaves toward fools.
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The laws of animality govern almost the whole of history.
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Clever people will recognize and tolerate nothing but cleverness.
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Nothing resembles pride so much as discouragement.
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The test of every religious, political, or educational system is the man that it forms.
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Every landscape is, as it were, a state of the soul, and whoever penetrates into both is astonished to find how much likeness there is in each detail.
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To be always ready a man must be able to cut a knot, for everything cannot be untied.
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Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time.
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Man never knows what he wants he aspires to penetrate mysteries and as soon as he has, wants to re-establish them. Ignorance irritates him and knowledge cloys.
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It would have been a joy to me to be smiled upon, loved, encouraged, welcomed, and to obtain what I was so ready to give, kindness and goodwill. But to hunt down consideration and reputation - to force the esteem of others - seemed to me an effort unworthy of myself, almost a degradation.
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Never to tire, never to grow cold to be patient, sympathetic, tender to look for the budding flower and the opening heart to hope always like God, to love always--this is duty.
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To marry unequally is to suffer equally.
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For purposes of action nothing is more useful than narrowness of thought combined with energy of will.
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Any landscape is a condition of the spirit.
Henri Frederic Amiel