The old Greeks dwelt on the tendency of human affairs to drift downwards irresistibly to unhappiness. Guilt - that is, untoward and often involuntary actions - pulls generation after generation heavily as lead down, down, down. Richard Jefferies More Quotes by Richard Jefferies More Quotes From Richard Jefferies O beautiful human life! Tears come to my eyes as I think of it. So beautiful, so inexpressibly beautiful! The song should never be silent, the dance never still, the laugh should sound like water which runs forever. Richard Jefferies running beautiful life I must stay under the old tree in the midst of the long grass, the luxury of the leaves, and the song in the very air. It seems as if I could feel all the glowing life the sunshine gives and the south winds calls into being. Richard Jefferies sunshine healing song I have observed that almost all those whose labour lies in the field, and who go down to their business in the green meadows, admit the animal world to a share in the faculty of reason. It is the cabinet makers who construct a universe of automatons. Richard Jefferies equality business lying It is eternity now. I am in the midst of it. It is about me and the sunshine. Richard Jefferies Science, as illustrated by the printing press, the telegraph, the railway, is a double-edged sword. At the same moment that it puts an enormous power in the hands of the good man, it also offers an equal advantage to the evil disposed. Richard Jefferies good moment man science The lover of nature has the highest art in his soul. Richard Jefferies lover nature soul art Ever since the world began, it has been the belief of mankind that desolate places are the special haunt of supernatural beings. Richard Jefferies places belief special world No tyrant, however evil, has yet lacked ready hands to execute his most abominable will. To read how eagerly men have rushed to serve the despot is the bitterest, the saddest matter of history; it is the saddest sight in our own day. Richard Jefferies day evil men history It would seem that the ant works its way tentatively, and, observing where it fails, tries another place and succeeds. Richard Jefferies place where observing way A kestrel can and does hover in the dead calm of summer days, when there is not the faintest breath of wind. He will, and does, hover in the still, soft atmosphere of early autumn, when the gossamer falls in showers, coming straight down as if it were raining silk. Richard Jefferies down calm autumn wind If every plant and flower were found in all places, the charm of locality would not exist. Everything varies, and that gives the interest. Richard Jefferies places everything plant flower The impression left after watching the motions of birds is that of extreme mobility - a life of perpetual impulse checked only by fear. Richard Jefferies birds watching fear life I desire a greatness of soul, an irradiance of mind, a deeper insight, a broader hope. Richard Jefferies greatness soul hope mind That I may have the soul-life, the soul-nature, let divine beauty bring to me divine soul. Richard Jefferies me divine soul beauty Now is eternity; now is the immortal life. Richard Jefferies now immortal eternity life Some, I verily believe, delight to be slave-men; it is a joy to them, and they would not change their condition; not only miserable village wretches, but men in good position, well-to-do sycophants. Richard Jefferies good village change men When even the most strictly logical mind looks round and investigates the phenomena attending its own existence, perhaps the first fact to attract attention by its strongly marked prominence is the remarkable loneliness of man. He stands alone. Richard Jefferies alone man loneliness mind This sunlight linked me through the ages to that past consciousness. Richard Jefferies through me sunlight nature past It is injurious to the mind as well as to the body to be always in one place and always surrounded by the same circumstances. Richard Jefferies place body circumstances mind An inspiration - a long, deep breath of the pure air of thought - could alone give health to the heart. Richard Jefferies alone health heart long
