“There is no quality of the mind, or of the body, that so instantaneously and irresistibly captivates, as wit. An elegant writer has observed that wit may do very well for a mistress, but that he should prefer reason for a wife. He that deserts the latter, and gives himself up entirely to the guidance of the former, will certainly fall into many pitfalls and quagmires, like him who walks by flashes of lightning, rather than the steady beams of the sun.” GivingShouldMindWellsMayReasonBodyFallWalksQualitySunWifeWitFormerDesertGuidanceLatterSteadyFlashLightningElegantMistressBeamPitfallsQuagmire Book:Remarks on the Talents of Lord Byron and the Tendencies of Don Juan Source: Remarks on the Talents of Lord Byron and the Tendencies of Don Juan
“Tempests, and bright lightnings, are to be sung; their nature is to be told, and from what cause they pursue their course; lest, having foolishly divided the heaven into parts, you should be anxious as to the quarter from which the flying flame may come, or to what region it may betake itself; and tremble to think how it penetrates through walled enclosures, and how, having exercised its power, it extricates itself from them. Of which phenomena the multitude can by no means see the causes, and think that they are accomplished by supernatural power.” ThinkingShouldMayMeanCoursesHeavenCausesFlyingPursueFlamesAccomplishedRegionsDividedAnxiousQuartersLightningMultitudesPenetrateTempestSupernatural PowersEnclosure Book:On the Nature of Things Source: On the Nature of Things