A belief is not true because it is useful.
¶ Amiel's Journey (1872)
Quotations by ...
Henri-Frédéric Amiel (1821-1881) Swiss philosopher, poet and critic
The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life and you must accept regret.
¶ Amiel's Journey (1872)
Our true history is scarcely ever deciphered by others. The chief part of the drama is a monologue, or rather an intimate debate between God, our conscience, and ourselves. Tears, griefs, depressions, disappointments, irritations, good and evil thoughts, decisions, uncertainties, deliberations—all these belong to our secret, and are almost all incommunicable and intransmissible, even when we try to speak of them, and even when we write them down.
¶ Journal Intime, entry for 27 Oct 1856 (1882)
trans. Mrs. Humphrey Ward (1892)
Conquering any difficulty always gives one a secret joy, for it means pushing back a boundary-line and adding to one's liberty.
¶ Journal Intime
Self-interest is but the survival of the animal in us. Humanity only begins for man with self-surrender.
¶ Journal Intime (17 Dec 1856)
We are always making God our accomplice so that we may legalize our own inequities. Every successful massacre is consecrated by a Te Deum, and the clergy have never been wanting in benedictions for any victorious enormity.
¶ Journal Intime (6 Oct. 1866)
Mutual respect implies discretion and reserve even in love itself; it means preserving as much liberty as possible to those whose life we share. We must distrust our instinct of intervention, for the desire to make one’s own will prevail is often disguised under the mask of solicitude.
¶ Journal Intime (7 Nov 1862)
The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret.
¶ Journal Intime, entry for 17 Dec 1856 (1882)
trans. by Mrs. Humphrey Ward (1892)
About WIST
WIST is my collection of quotations I find meaningful, moving, amusing (intended or not), well-phrased, and/or to which I just say I "Wish I'd Said That." But just because I quote it here doesn't mean I actually agree with it. If you have any comments, corrections, or suggestions, please don't hesitate to
Quote Search
Use the Fast Search search box to look for text in quotations or their sources.
To search for an author, go to the All Authors page. Or you can also use the custom Google search below for quotes and authors:
Quotes by Author
WIST Info
Powered by
Movable Type 4.01
Movable Type 4.01