I've never thought of my characters as being sad. On the contrary, they are full of life. They didn't choose read more

I've never thought of my characters as being sad. On the contrary, they are full of life. They didn't choose tragedy. Tragedy chose them.

In its function, the power to punish is not essentially different from that of curing or educating.

In its function, the power to punish is not essentially different from that of curing or educating.

I have often thought what a melancholy world this would be without children, and what an inhuman world without the read more

I have often thought what a melancholy world this would be without children, and what an inhuman world without the aged

There is no more mistaken path to happiness than worldliness, revelry, high life.

There is no more mistaken path to happiness than worldliness, revelry, high life.

to be nobody-but-myself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make me everybody else means, read more

to be nobody-but-myself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make me everybody else means, to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.

When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this: When you read more

When you were born, you cried and everybody else was happy. The only question that matters is this: When you die, will YOU be happy when everybody else is crying?

Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not read more

Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

Life is a jest; and all things show it.
I thought so once; but now I know it.

Life is a jest; and all things show it.
I thought so once; but now I know it.

Where the mind is past hope, the heart is past shame.

Where the mind is past hope, the heart is past shame.