“It is scarcely exaggeration to say that if one is not a little mad about Balzac at twenty, one will never live; and if at forty one can still take Rastignac and Lucien de Rubempre at Balzac's own estimate, one has lived in vain.” IfsLittlesStillsTwentiesMadVainFortyExaggerationTwenty OneBalzac Book:Not Under Forty Source: Not Under Forty
“Can it be possible that all human sympathies can thrive, and all human powers be exercised, and all human joys increase, if we live with all our might with the thirty or forty people next to us, telegraphing kindly to all other people, to be sure? Can it be possible that our passion for large cities, and large parties, and large theatres, and large churches, develops no faith nor hope nor love which would not find aliment and exercise in a little "world of our own"?” PeopleIfsWorldHumansLittlesMightJoyPassionNextChurchPartyCitiesExerciseIncreaseTheatreThirtyThriveFortyHuman PowerLarge Cities Book:Works Source: Works