The contact of a system of philosophy or religion with reality is that of a tangent with a circle. It touches the circle at one point, but instantly the circle edges away.
In every man there is something of the Universal Spirit, strangely limited by that which is finite and personal, but still there. Occasionally it makes itself known in a word, look, or gesture, and then he becomes one with the stars and sea.
We cannot really understand a religion unless we have believed it.
We ought to cultivate strength of will by doing what we have once decided to do. Subsequent reasons for not doing it may appear plausible, but it will generally be better to adhere to our first resolution. The advantage gained by change will not be equal to that derived from persistence.
Never be afraid of being commonplace. Never turn aside from the truth because it is commonplace.
A nightmare is not scattered while we are asleep. It disappears simply by—waking.
Cursed temperament.—A long drought broke up. The grass had been burnt, and the cattle were dying for want of water. In one week two inches of rain fell.
A. ‘What a blessing this rain is!’
B. ‘Yes, but a reaction is sure to follow. I’ve noticed that after weather like this we always have a spell of dry, northerly winds.’
The prompter which urges us on from one point to another, never discouraged by failure to see in the present moment what it seemed to possess when we pursued it, or rather, not permitting us to stop to find out if there be any failure—this it is by which we live. When it departs it is time to die.