“In the beginning the Gods made man, and fashioned the sky and the sea, And the earth's fair face for man's dwelling-place, and this was the Gods' decree: "Lo, We have given to man five wits: he discerneth folly and sin; He is swift to deride all the world outside, and blind to the world within: So that man may make sport and amuse Us, in battling for phrases or pelf, Now that each may know what forebodeth woe to his neighbor, and not to himself.” KnowsMenWorldMayMadeEarthFacesGivenSportsSinFiveSeaSkyFairsBlindNeighborWitPhrasesFollyWoeDwellingDecreeDwelling Place Book:The Essential James Branch Cabell Collection Source: The Essential James Branch Cabell Collection
“For although this was a very heroic war, with a parade of every sort of high moral principle, and with the most sonorous language employed upon both sides, it somehow failed to bring about either the reformation or the ruin of humankind: and after the conclusion of the murdering and general breakage, the world went on pretty much as it has done after all other wars, with a vague notion that a deal of time and effort had been unprofitably invested, and a conviction that it would be inglorious to say so.” WorldWarDoneWould BeLanguageSidesDealsEffortMoralPrinciplesNotionConvictionConclusionRuinsHeroicHumankindVagueBoth SidesEmployedReformationParadesMoral Principles Book:Figures of Earth: A Comedy of Appearances Source: Figures of Earth: A Comedy of Appearances
“The optimist sees a light at the end of the tunnel, the realist sees a train entering the tunnel, the pessimist sees a train speeding at him, hell for leather, and the machinist sees three idiots sitting on the rail track. "The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; the pessimist fears this is true."” WorldEndsLightThreeHellSittingTrainTrackIdiotCynicismIdealismOptimistEnteringTunnelsLeatherPessimistRealistRailSpeedingLight At The End Of The TunnelEnd Of The Tunnel Author:James Branch Cabell
“I have read that the secret of gallantry is to accept the pleasures of life leisurely, and its inconveniences with a shrug; as well as that, among other requisites, the gallant person will always consider the world with a smile of toleration, and his own doings with a smile of honest amusement, and Heaven with a smile which is not distrustful — being thoroughly persuaded that God is kindlier than the genteel would regard as rational.” WorldWellsPersonsHeavenPleasureSecretAcceptingHonestRegardRationalAmusementInconvenienceDoingsTolerationPleasures Of LifeGallantGallantry Book:Beyond Life Source: Beyond Life
“Creeds matter very little... The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true. So I elect for neither label.” WorldLittlesMatterOptimismOptimisticLabelsPessimismCreedsOptimistPessimistBeing OptimisticOptimism In LifePositive OptimisticOptimism And PessimismOptimistic LifeOptimists And PessimistsPositivity And Optimism Author:James Branch Cabell
“People must have both their dreams and their dinners in this world, and when we go out of it we must take what we find. That is all.” PeopleWorldDreamThis WorldDinner Book:The Silver Stallion Source: The Silver Stallion
