A man only understands what is akin to something already existing in himself. Henri Frederic Amiel More Quotes by Henri Frederic Amiel More Quotes From Henri Frederic Amiel It is not what he had, or even what he does which expresses the worth of a man, but what he is. Henri Frederic Amiel inspirationalcharactermen Sacrifice still exists everywhere, and everywhere the elect of each generation suffers for the salvation of the rest. Henri Frederic Amiel glowingsacrificesuffering Sacrifice, which is the passion of great souls, has never been the law of societies. Henri Frederic Amiel sacrificepassionlaw Thought is a kind of opium; it can intoxicate us, while still broad awake; it can make transparent the mountains and everything that exists. Henri Frederic Amiel mountainkindthinking To repel one's cross is to make it heavier. Henri Frederic Amiel responsibilitycrosses Cleverness is serviceable for everything, sufficient for nothing. Henri Frederic Amiel clevernessintelligenceclever He who asks of life nothing but the improvement of his own nature... is less liable than anyone else to miss and waste life. Henri Frederic Amiel self-improvementperseverancemissing If nationality is consent, the state is compulsion. Henri Frederic Amiel consentcompulsionstates Pure truth cannot be assimilated by the crowd; it must be communicated by contagion. Henri Frederic Amiel contagioncrowdscommunication The only substance properly so called is the soul. Henri Frederic Amiel substancesoul Time is the supreme illusion. It is but the inner prism by which we decompose being and life, the mode under which we perceive successively what is simultaneous in idea. Henri Frederic Amiel illusiontimeideas To know how to suggest is the art of teaching. Henri Frederic Amiel educationalteacherart We are never more discontented with others than when we are discontented with ourselves. Henri Frederic Amiel psychicsrelationshippeace An error is the more dangerous in proportion to the degree of truth which it contains. Henri Frederic Amiel truthmistakefunny Sympathy is the first condition of criticism. Henri Frederic Amiel criticismsympathyfirsts Obstinacy is will asserting itself without being able to justify itself. It is persistence without a reasonable motive. It is the tenacity of self-love substituted for that of reason and conscience. Henri Frederic Amiel persistenceselflove We are always making God our accomplice, that so we may legalize our own iniquities. Every successful massacre is consecrated by a Te Deum, and the clergy have never been wanting in benedictions for any victorious enormity. Henri Frederic Amiel hypocrisysuccessfulgod Our greatest illusion is to believe that we are what we think ourselves to be. Henri Frederic Amiel illusionbelievethinking About Jesus we must believe no one but himself. Henri Frederic Amiel believejesus The obscure only exists that it may cease to exist. In it lies the opportunity of all victory and all progress. Whether it call itself fatality, death, night, or matter, it is the pedestal of life, of light, of liberty and the spirit. For it represents resistance -- that is to say, the fulcrum of all activity, the occasion for its development and its triumph. Henri Frederic Amiel opportunitynightlying
