Sing out my soul, thy songs of joy;
Such as a happy bird will sing,
Beneath a read more

Sing out my soul, thy songs of joy;
Such as a happy bird will sing,
Beneath a Rainbow's lovely arch,
In early spring.

There's not a joy the world can give like that it takes away.
- Lord Byron (George read more

There's not a joy the world can give like that it takes away.
- Lord Byron (George Gordon Noel Byron),

Joy has this in common with pain, that it robs people of reason.

Joy has this in common with pain, that it robs people of reason.

Joy is not in things; it is in us

Joy is not in things; it is in us

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. read more

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.

But were there ever any
Writhed not at passed joy?

But were there ever any
Writhed not at passed joy?

They hear a voice in every wind,
And snatch a fearful joy.

They hear a voice in every wind,
And snatch a fearful joy.

And, e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy,
The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy.

And, e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy,
The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy.

Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in read more

Joy can be real only if people look upon their life as a service, and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness