“Optimism has always seemed to me the cunning alibi of egoists, anxious to cover up their state of chronic self-satisfaction. They are optimists in order to avoid pitying other men and their misfortune. ~~ Yet pity is a vexed question.” MenSelfStatesOrderOptimismSatisfactionPityMisfortunesAnxiousOptimistCunningCover UpsSelf-satisfaction Book:A diary of my times Source: A diary of my times
“What a cunning mixture of sentiment, pity, tenderness, irony surrounds adolescence, what knowing watchfulness! Young birds on their first flight are hardly so hovered around.” FirstsYoungKnowingBirdPityFlightIronySentimentsSurroundTendernessAdolescenceTeenageCunningMixturesWatchfulness Book:The Diary of a Country Priest Source: The Diary of a Country Priest
“I know the compassion of others is a relief at first. I don't despise it. But it can't quench pain, it slips through your soul as through a sieve. And when our suffering has been dragged from one pity to another, as from one mouth to another, we can no longer respect or love it.” KnowsLoveFirstsHas BeensSoulPainSufferingCompassionMouthsPityYour SoulReliefDespiseSlipsQuench Book:The Diary of a Country Priest Source: The Diary of a Country Priest
“When writing of oneself one should show no mercy. Yet why at the first attempt to discover one's own truth does all inner strength seem to melt away in floods of self-pity and tenderness and rising tears?” ShouldWritingFirstsDoeSelfShowsSeemsTearsMercyOneselfPityRisingInner StrengthTendernessFloodAutobiographySelf Pity Book:The Diary of a Country Priest Source: The Diary of a Country Priest
