Love withers under constraint: its very essence is liberty: it is compatible neither with obedience, jealousy, nor fear.
¶ "Queen Mab"
Quotations by ...
Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) English poet
Our sincerest laughter
With some pain is fraught;
Our sweetest songs
Are those that tell of saddest thought.
¶ (Attributed)
Familiar acts are beautiful through love.
¶ Prometheus Unbound (1819)
If he is infinitely good, what reason should we have to fear him? If he is infinitely wise, why should we have doubts concerning our future? If he knows all, why warn him of our needs and fatigue him with our prayers? If he is everywhere, why erect temples to him? If he is just, why fear that he will punish the creatures that he has filled with weaknesses? If grace does everything for them, what reason would he have for recompensing them? If he is all-powerful, how offend him, how resist him? If he is reasonable, how can he be angry at the blind, to whom he has given the liberty of being unreasonable? If he is immovable, by what right do we pretend to make him change his decrees? If he is inconceivable, why occupy ourselves with him? IF HE HAS SPOKEN, WHY IS THE UNIVERSE NOT CONVINCED? If the knowledge of a God is the most necessary, why is it not the most evident and the clearest?
¶ The Necessity of Atheism (1811)
http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/percy_shelley/necessity_of_atheism.html (1813 ed.)
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