“She had lost herself in this old work, her personality dissolving into it, so that she had been set free. The immortality of the soul lies in its dissolution; this was the cryptic comment that so frustrated Olivier and which Julien had only ever grasped as evidence for the history of a particular school of thought. He had known all about its history, but Julia knew what it meant. He found the realization strangely reassuring.” SoulPhilosophyFreedomThoughtLiberationMeaningImmortalityDissolutionSelf Abandonment Book:The Dream of Scipio Source: The Dream of Scipio
“I have brought peace to this land, and security," he began. "And what of your soul, when you use the cleverness of argument to cloak such acts? Do you think that the peace of a thousand cancels out the unjust death of one single person? It may be desirable, it may win you praise from those who have happily survived you and prospered from your deeds, but you have committed ignoble acts, and have been too proud to own them. I have waited patiently here, hoping that you would come to me, for if you understood, then some of your acts would be mitigated. But instead you send me this manuscript, proud, magisterial, and demonstrating only that you have understood nothing at all." "I returned to public life on your advice, madam," he said stiffly. "Yes; I advised it. I said if learning must die it should do so with a friend by its bedside. Not an assassin.” SoulPhilosophyValuesEvilPeaceLearningVirtuePrideKillingInjusticeProsperityCorruptionGoodDoctrinePublic OfficeVice Book:The Dream of Scipio Source: The Dream of Scipio
“Being by the sea is like a permanent baptism; the light and air hypnotizes, and your soul is washed by vastness.” SoulSeaOceanBaptism Book:The Portrait Source: The Portrait
“Action is the activity of the rational soul, which abhors irrationality and must combat it or be corrupted by it. When it sees the irrationality of others, it must seek to correct it, and can do this either by teaching or engaging in public affairs itself, correcting through its practice. And the purpose of action is to enable philosophy to continue, for if men are reduced to the material alone, they become no more than beasts.” IfsMenSoulPhilosophyActionPurposeCan DoPracticeTeachingMaterialsActivityAffairRationalBeastCombatEngagingCorrectingIrrationalityPublic Affairs Book:Dream of Scipio Source: Dream of Scipio
“[Men] prefer the foolish belief and the passions of the earth [to the enlightenment of their souls]. They believe the absurd and shrink from the truth.No, they do not. They are afraid, that is all. And they must remain on earth until they come to the way of leaving it.And how do they leave? How is the ascent made? Must one learn virtue?Here she laughs. You have read too much, and learned too little. Virtue is a road, not a destination. Man cannot be virtuous. Understanding is the goal. When that is achieved, the soul can take wing.” MenWayBelieveLittlesMadeSoulEarthPassionBeliefUnderstandingGoalLaughingVirtueToo MuchEnlightenmentWingsLeavingFoolishAbsurdDestinationVirtuousShrinksAscent Author:Iain Pears
