Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 728 pages of information about Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3.

Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 728 pages of information about Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3.

O Man, thou hast been a citizen of this great State, the Universe!  What matters what thy prescribed time hath been, five years or three?  What the law prescribes is just to every one.

Why complain, then, if thou art sent away from the State, not by a tyrant or an unjust judge, but by Nature who led thee thither,—­even as the manager excuses from the stage an actor whom he hath employed?

“But I have played three acts only?”

True.  But in the drama of thy life three acts conclude the play.  For what its conclusion shall be, He determines who created it and now ends it; and with either of these thou hast naught to do.  Depart thou, then, well pleased; for He who dismisses thee is well pleased also. (Book xii., Sec.36.)

Be not disquieted lest, in the days to come, some misadventure befall thee.  The Reason which now sufficeth thee will then be with thee, should there be the need. (Book vii., Sec.8.)

* * * * *

To the wise man the dictates of Reason seem the instincts of Nature.  (Book vii., Sec.11)

* * * * *

My true self—­the philosophic mind—­hath but one dread:  the dread lest I do something unworthy of a man, or that I may act in an unseemly way or at an improper time. (Book vii., Sec.20.)

* * * * *

Accept with joy the Fate that befalls thee.  Thine it is and not another’s.  What then could be better for thee? (Book vii., Sec.57)

* * * * *

See to it that thou art humane to those who are not humane. (Book vii., Sec.65.)

* * * * *

He who does not act, often commits as great a wrong as he who acts.  (Book ix., Sec.5.)

* * * * *

The wrong that another has done—­let alone!  Add not to it thine own.  (Book ix., Sec.20.)

* * * * *

How powerful is man!  He is able to do all that God wishes him to do.  He is able to accept all that God sends upon him. (Book xii., Sec.11.)

* * * * *

A lamp sends forth its light until it is completely extinguished.  Shall Truth and Justice and Equanimity suffer abatement in thee until all are extinguished in death? (Book xii., Sec.15.)

JANE AUSTEN

(1775-1817)

The biography of one of the greatest English novelists might be written in a dozen lines, so simple, so tranquil, so fortunate was her life.  Jane Austen, the second daughter of an English clergyman, was born at Steventon, in Hampshire, in 1775.  Her father had been known at Oxford as “the handsome proctor,” and all his children inherited good looks.  He was accomplished enough to fit his boys for the University, and the atmosphere of the household was that of culture,

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Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 3 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.