For what use are books to anyone whose days are like a rook's nest with every twig a duty.
The novelist must be his own most harsh critic and also his own most loving admirer and about both he must say nothing.
Envy has the ugliness of a trapped rat that has gnawed its own foot in its effort to escape.
The opportunities for heroism are limited in this kind of world: the most people can do is sometimes not to be as weak as they've been at other times.
All the seven deadly sins are self destroying, morbid appetites, but in their early stages at least, lust and gluttony, averice and sloth know some gratification, while anger and pride have power, even though that power eventually destroys itself. Envy is impotent, numbed with fear, never ceasing in its appetite, and it knows no gratification, but endless self torment. It has the ugliness of a trapped rat, which gnaws its own foot in an effort to escape.
People are able to live with only half a heart, to live without real compassion, because they are able to use words that are only forms.
Life isn't just to be found, you have to work for it.
Change your thoughts. . . charge your life.
No one will give you change. You have to work for it. You have to earn it not by screaming, but by working hard, by believing in yourself, by proving yourself. There are windows, but if you are radical, no one will talk to you. And that window will shut.
. . . Athenians are addicted to innovation. They are daring beyond their judgment they toil on with little opportunity for enjoying, being ever engaged in getting, they were born into the world to take no rest themselves, and to give none to others.
What a weak, credulous, incredulous, unbelieving, superstitious, bold, frightened, what a ridiculous world ours is, as far as concerns the mind of man. How full of inconsistencies, contradictions and absurdities it is. I declare that taking the average of many minds that have recently come before me. . . I should prefer the obedience, affections and instinct of a dog before it.