Quote

Self-interest is an inexhaustible source of convenient illusions. The number of beings who wish to see truly is extraordinarily small.

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
Self
Beings
Number
Truly
Source
Inexhaustible
Numbers
Extraordinarily
Small
Illusions
Interest
Convenient
Wish
Illusion

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Heroism is the brilliant triumph of the soul over the flesh - over fear...Heroism is the dazzling and glorious concentration of courage.
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[I]t is truth alone-scientific, established, proved, and rational truth-which is capable of satisfying nowadays the awakened minds of all classes. We may still say perhaps, 'faith governs the world,'-but the faith of the present is no longer in revelation or in the priest-it is in reason and in science.
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Mother of Marvels, mysterious and tender Nature, why do we not live more in thee.
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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.
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Truth is not only violated by falsehood it may be equally outraged by silence.
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The tragic solemnity of existence strikes us with terrible force on that morning when we wake to find the mournful words too late ringing in our ears.
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There are 2 sorts of pride: one in which we approve others, the other in which we cannot accept ourselves.
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To do what is impossible for talent is the mark of genius.
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From every spot on earth we are equally near heaven and the infinite.
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Kindness is gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us.
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Dreams are excursions into the limbo of things, a semi-deliverance from the human prison.
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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.
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Woman is the salvation or the destruction of the family. She carries its destiny in the folds of her mantle.
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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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Man becomes man only by his intelligence, but he is man only by his heart.
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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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Truth above all, even when it upsets us and overwhelms us.
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Life alone can rekindle life.
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The test of every religious, political, or educational system is the man that it forms.
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The growth and development of the soul is more important than power and glory.
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