Monday, September 27, 2010

Meandering to and fro . . .

Today is the birthday of Henri Frédéric Amiel (September 27, 1821 – May 11, 1881), philosopher, poet and critic. He is best known by the one book published after his death, the Journal Intime, which is considered a masterpiece of self-analysis.

"The fire which enlightens is the same fire which consumes."
- Henri-Frédéric Amiel

"Learn to limit yourself, to content yourself with some definite thing, and some definite work; dare to be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not and to believe in your own individuality."
- Henri-Frédéric Amiel

"Oh, do not let us wait to be just or pitiful or demonstrative toward those we love until they or we are struck down by illness or threatened with death! Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh, be swift to love, make haste to be kind!"
- Henri-Frédéric Amiel

"An error is the more dangerous in proportion to the degree of truth which it contains."
- Henri-Frédéric Amiel

"Learn to... be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not."
- Henri-Frédéric Amiel

"The fire which enlightens is the same fire which consumes."
- Henri-Frédéric Amiel

Amiel image source (1)

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