“As for the wellsprings of wonderment, they run deep. The quiet mind, the youthful heart, the perceptive eye, the racing blood – these conflow to produce wonder.”
– E.B. White, The Points of My Compass
“Solitude. Where does its value lie? For in solitude we are in the presence of mere matter (even the sky, the stars, the moon, trees in blossom), things of less value (perhaps) than a human spirit. Its value lies in the greater possibility of attention.”
– Simone Weil, Gravity and Grace
“I love the poetic gait, by leaps and gambols.
– Montaigne
“I paint transience.”
– Montaigne
“Chaos, in a work of art, should shimmer through the veil of order.”
– Novalis
“One man, I remember, used to take off his hat and set fire to his hair every now and then, but I do not remember what it proved, if it proved anything at all, except that he was a very interesting man.”
– Dylan Thomas, “Reminiscences of Childhood,” Quite Early One Morning
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
– Goethe
Thanks for spreading these before us, Jerry. The Goethe couplet is often found at the end of the following passage by W. H. Murray from his 1951 book, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition. I first encountered this passage while a member of the Rochester Zen Center. I’ve worked on memorizing it, beginning at the words, “Until one…”
… but when I said that nothing had been done I erred in one important matter. We had definitely committed ourselves and were halfway out of our ruts. We had put down our passage money— booked a sailing to Bombay. This may sound too simple, but is great in consequence. Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!
These are great words, Steve. Looks like I need to read this book. Thanks for pointing me toward it.