“A novel is balanced between a few true impressions and the multitude of false ones that make up most of what we call life. It tells us that for every human being there is a diversity of existences, that the single existence is itself an illusion in part, that these many existences signify something, tend to something, fulfill something; it promises us meaning, harmony, and even justice.” HumansJusticeHuman BeingsExistenceNovelPromiseDiversityIllusionHarmonyImpressionBalancedMultitudesBeing There Author:Saul Bellow
“Religion assures us that our afflictions shall have an end; she comforts us, she dries our tears, she promises us another life. On the contrary, in the abominable worship of atheism, human woes are the incense, death is the priest, a coffin the altar, and annihilation the Deity.” HumansEndsAtheismTearsComfortPromiseWorshipContraryPriestsAfflictionWoeDeitiesAltarsCoffinsAnnihilationAnother LifeIncense Author:François-René de Chateaubriand
“Few human creatures would consent to be changed into any of the lower animals for a promise of the fullest allowance of a beast's pleasures; no intelligent human being would consent to be a fool, no instructed person would be an ignoramus, no person of feeling and conscience would be selfish and base, even though they should be persuaded that the fool, the dunce, or the rascal is better satisfied with his lot than they are with theirs.” ShouldHumansPersonsFeelingsWould BeHuman BeingsPleasureAnimalChangedFoolPromiseCreaturesConscienceIntelligentSelfishSatisfiedBeastConsentAllowanceBeing SelfishRascalsDunces Book:The Classical Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill Source: The Classical Utilitarians: Bentham and Mill
“Put forth thy leaf, thou lofty plane, East wind and frost are safely gone; With zephyr mild and balmy rain The summer comes serenely on; Earth, air, and sun and skies combine To promise all that's kind and fair: But thou, O human heart of mine, Be still, contain thyself, and bear.” HumansHeartKindStillsEarthSunGoneAirSkyMinesWindBearsPromiseSummerRainFairsEastPlanesLeafsHuman HeartThyselfLoftyFrostZephyr Book:Poems: With a Memoir Source: Poems: With a Memoir