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The doctrine of the utter vanity of life is a doctrine of despair, and life is hope.

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
Life
Utter
Vanity
Doctrine
Despair
Hope

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There are who mistake the spirit of pugnacity for the spirit of piety, and thus harbor a devil instead of an angel.
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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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The writers who accomplish most are those who compel thought on the highest and most profoundly interesting subjects.
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Insight makes argument ridiculous.
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If thou wouldst be interesting, keep thy personality in the background, and be great and strong in and through thy subject.
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Contradiction is the salt which keeps truth from corruption
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The exercise of authority is odious, and they who know how to govern, leave it in abeyance as much as possible.
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The ploughman knows how many acres he shall upturn from dawn to sunset: but the thinker knows not what a day may bring forth.
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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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Our prejudices are like physical infirmities — we cannot do what they prevent us from doing.
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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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The able have no desire to appear to be so, and this is part of their ability.
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If science were nothing more than the best means of teaching the love of the simple fact, the indispensable need of verification, of careful and accurate observation and statement, its value would be of the highest order.
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What we think out for ourselves forms channels in which other thoughts will flow.
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Faith, like love, unites opinion, like hate, separates.
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We may outgrow the things of children, without acquiring sense and relish for those which become a man.
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As we can not love what is hateful, let us accustom ourselves neither to think nor to speak of disagreeable things and persons.
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Few know the joys that spring from a disinterested curiosity. It is like a cheerful spirit that leads us through worlds filled with what is true and fair, which we admire and love because it is true and fair.
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What we enjoy, not what we possess, is ours, and in labouring for the possession of many things, we lose the power to enjoy the best.
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Your faith is what you believe, not what you know.
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