If we fail to conquer smaller difficulties, what will become of us when assaulted by greater? Themas à Kempis.
If we hope for what we are not likely to possess, we act and think in vain, and make life a greater dream and shadow than it really is. Addison.
If we live truly, we shall see truly. Emerson.
If we love those we lose, can we altogether lose those we love? Thackeray.
If we reflect on the number of men we have seen and know, and consider how little we have been to them and they to us, what must our feelings be? (wie wird uns da zu Muthe). We meet with the man of genius (Geistreich) without conversing with him, with the scholar without learning from him, with the traveller without gaining information from him, the amiable man without making ourselves agreeable to him. And this, alas! happens not merely with passing acquaintances; society and families conduct themselves similarly towards their dearest members, cities towards their worthiest citizens, peoples towards their most excellent princes, and nations towards their most eminent men. Goethe.
If we saw all the things that really surround 5 us, we should be imprisoned and unable to move. Emerson.
If we should all bring our misfortunes into one place, most of us would be glad to take our own home again rather than take a proportion out of the common stock. Solon.
If we shut Nature out at the door, she will come in at the window. Sir R. L'Estrange.
If we sit down sullen and inactive, in expectation that God should do all, we shall find ourselves miserably deceived. Rogers.
If we will disbelieve everything because we cannot certainly know all things, we shall do much as wisely as he who would not use his legs, but sit still and perish because he had no wings. Locke.