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 s.h.i.+ne, As s.h.i.+nes 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._