Quotes about Introspection

Every man in his lifetime needs to thank his faults.

Let me admonish you, first of all, to go alone; to refuse the good models, even those most sacred in the imagination of men, and dare to love God without mediator or veil.

The purpose of life seems to be to acquaint a man with himself and whatever science or art or course of action he engages in reacts upon and illuminates the recesses of his own mind. Thus friends seem to be only mirrors to draw out and explain to us ourselves; and that which draws us nearer our fellow man, is, that the deep Heart in one, answers the deep Heart in another, -- that we find we have (a common Nature) -- one life which runs through all individuals, and which is indeed Divine.

The ancient precept, "Know thyself," and the modern precept, "Study nature," become at last one maxim.

Good bye, proud world! I'm going home; Thou art not my friend, and I'm not thine

Nothing can work me damage except myself; the harm that I sustain I carry about with me, and never am a real sufferer but by my own fault.

But now we are a mob. Man does not stand in awe of man, nor is his genius admonished to stay at home, to put itself in communication with the internal ocean, but it goes abroad to beg a cup of water of the urns of other men.

Most of the shadows of life are caused by standing in our own sunshine.

I chide society, I embrace solitude, and yet I am not so ungrateful as not to see the wise, the lovely, and the noble-minded, as from time to time they pass my gate.

Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe? Why should not we have a

And, in fine, the ancient precept, "Know thyself," and the modern precept, "Study nature," become at last one maxim.

Why should I vapor and play the philosopher, instead of ballasting, the best I can, this dancing balloon?