May I govern my passions with absolute sway,
And grow wiser and better as my strength wears away.

May I govern my passions with absolute sway,
And grow wiser and better as my strength wears away.

O that my tongue were in the thunder's mouth!
Then with passion would I shake the world,
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O that my tongue were in the thunder's mouth!
Then with passion would I shake the world,
And rouse from sleep that fell anatomy
Which cannot hear a lady's feeble voice,
Which scorns a modern invocation.

I passionately hate the idea of being with it, I think an artist has always to be out of step read more

I passionately hate the idea of being with it, I think an artist has always to be out of step with his time.

Difference of object does not alter singleness of passion. It
merely intensifies it. We can have but one great read more

Difference of object does not alter singleness of passion. It
merely intensifies it. We can have but one great experience at
best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as
often as possible.

Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.

Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.

The passions are like fire, useful in a thousand ways and dangerous only in one, through their excess.

The passions are like fire, useful in a thousand ways and dangerous only in one, through their excess.

Filled with fury, rapt, inspir'd.

Filled with fury, rapt, inspir'd.

If we resist our passions it is more from their weakness than
from our strength.

If we resist our passions it is more from their weakness than
from our strength.

Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.
These are read more

Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.
These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope,
They do not point on me.