Life and Literature Part 69

--_Old Magazine._

I

951

The I is worthy of aversion when it is princ.i.p.ally confined to the person who uses it.

--_Pascal._

952

What am I?

Naught! But the effluence of Thy light divine Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too.

Yes, in my spirit doth Thy spirit shine, As shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew.

Naught! But I live, and on Hope's pinions fly Eager toward Thy presence; for in Thee, I live, and breathe, and dwell, aspiring high, Even to the throne of Thy divinity.

I am, O G.o.d, and surely Thou must be!

--_Sir John Bowring's translation of Derzhavin's "Ode to G.o.d."_

953

Ideas are like beards; men do not have them until they grow up.

954

A young man idle, an old man needy.

955

Labor is the divine law of our existence; repose is desertion and suicide.

956

If you want anything done, go to a busy man; Man of leisure never has time to do anything.

957

Lose this day loitering--'twill be the same story To-morrow, and the next more dilatory.

--_Goethe._

958

If any man wish to escape idleness let him fall in love.

959

Better lose your labor than your time in idleness.

--_Dutch._

960

Idleness must thank itself if it go barefoot.

--_From the German._

961

I would not waste my spring of youth In idle dalliance; I would plant rich seeds, To blossom in my manhood and bear fruit When I am old.

--_Hillhouse._

962

Never remain ignorant for the want of asking questions.

963

Ignorance is often a voluntary misfortune.

--_From the French._

964

Rather bear the ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of.

--_Shakespeare._