An empty book is like an infant's soul, in which anything may be written. It is capable of all things, but containeth nothing. I have a mind to fill this with profitable wonders. Thomas Traherne More Quotes by Thomas Traherne More Quotes From Thomas Traherne Strange is the vigour in a brave man's soul. The strength of his spirit and his irresistible power, the greatness of his heart and the height of his condition, his mighty confidence and contempt of danger, his true security and repose in himself, his liberty to dare and do what he pleaseth, his alacrity in the midst of fears, his invincible temper, are advantages which make him master of fortune. Thomas Traherne greatness heart men Sleep is cousin-german unto death: Sleep and death differ, no more, than a carcass And a skeleton. Thomas Traherne skeletons cousin sleep Be sensible of your wants, that you maybe sensible of your treasures. Thomas Traherne treasure sensible want Is it not strange, that an infant should be heir of the whole world, and see those mysteries which the books of the learned never unfold? Thomas Traherne childhood book world Your enjoyment of the world is never right, till every morning you awake in Heaven: see yourself in your Father's palace; and look upon the skies, the earth, and the air as celestial joys: having such a reverend esteem of all, as if you were among the angels. Thomas Traherne angel morning father Natural things are glorious, and to know them is glorious. Thomas Traherne nature natural inspirational How like an angel came I down! Thomas Traherne angel The sense itself was I. I felt no dross or matter in my soul, no brims or borders, such as in a bowl we see. My essence was capacity. Thomas Traherne essence soul matter The corn was orient and immortal wheat, which never should be reaped, nor was ever sown. I thought it had stood from everlasting to everlasting. Thomas Traherne corn wheat should He knoweth nothing as he ought to know it, who thinketh he knoweth anything without seeing its place and the manner how it relateth to God, angels, and men, and to all the creatures in earth, heaven and hell, time and eternity. Thomas Traherne angel men heaven We love we know not what, and therefore everything allures us. Thomas Traherne allure knows It is of the nobility of man's soul that he is insatiable: for he hath a benefactor so prone to give, that he delighteth in us for asking. Do not your inclinations tell you that the WORLD is yours? Do you not covet all? Do you not long to have it; to enjoy it; to overcome it? To what end do men gather riches, but to multiply more? Do they not like Pyrrhus the King of Epire, add house to house and lands to lands, that they may get it all? Thomas Traherne wall kings men You are as prone to love as the sun is to shine; it being the most delightful and natural employment of the soul of humans. Thomas Traherne shining soul love The soul is made for action, and cannot rest till it be employed. Idleness is its rust. Unless it will up and think and taste and see, all is in vain. Thomas Traherne soul success thinking Had we not loved ourselves at all, we could never have been obliged to love anything. So that self-love is the basis of all love. Thomas Traherne encouraging conceited love-you Certainly Adam in Paradise had not more sweet and curious apprehensions of the world, than I when I was a child. Thomas Traherne paradise sweet children Till you can sing and rejoice and delight in God, as misers do in gold, and kings in sceptres, you never enjoy the world. Thomas Traherne delight gold kings More company increases happiness, but does not lighten or diminish misery. Thomas Traherne misery-and-pain doe happiness Happiness was not made to be boasted, but enjoyed. Therefore tho others count me miserable, I will not believe them if I know and feel myself to be happy; nor fear them. Thomas Traherne miserable happiness believe An empty book is like an Infant's soul, in which anything may be written. Thomas Traherne soul may book
