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We are not masters of the truth which is borne in upon us: it overpowers us.

John Lancaster Spalding

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John Lancaster Spalding
Age: 76 †
Born: 1840
Born: June 2
Died: 1916
Died: August 25
Author
Biographer
Catholic Priest
Lebanon
Kentucky
Borne
Masters
Upon
Truth
Overpowers

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Whoever has freed himself from envy and bitterness may begin to try to see things as they are.
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The able have no desire to appear to be so, and this is part of their ability.
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We are made ridiculous less by our defects than by the affectation of qualities which are not ours.
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The noblest are they who turning from the things the vulgar crave, seek the source of a blessed life in worlds to which the senses do not lead.
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It is a common error to imagine that to be stirring and voluble in a worthy cause is to be good and to do good.
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Inferior thinking and writing will make a name for a man among inferior people, who in all ages and countries, are the majority.
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Contradiction is the salt which keeps truth from corruption
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If thy friends tire of thee, remember that it is human to tire of everything.
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Thy money, thy office, thy reputation are nothing put away these phantom clothings, and stand like an athlete stripped for the battle.
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The highest strength is acquired not in overcoming the world, but in overcoming one's self. Learn to be cruel to thyself, to withstand thy appetites, to bear thy sufferings, and thou shalt become free and able.
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Your faith is what you believe, not what you know.
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A gentleman does not appear to know more or to be more than those with whom he is thrown into company.
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Insight makes argument ridiculous.
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The common man is impelled and controlled by interests the superior, by ideas.
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There are few things it is more important to learn than how to live on little and be therewith content: for the less we need what is without, the more leisure have we to live within.
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Each forward step we take we leave some phantom of ourselves behind.
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The teacher does best, not when he explains, but when he impels his pupils to seek themselves the explanation.
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The doctrine of the utter vanity of life is a doctrine of despair, and life is hope.
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He who leaves school, knowing little, but with a longing for knowledge, will go farther than one who quits, knowing many things, but not caring to learn more.
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