We Need To Suffer, That We May

One Would Think That An Unsuccessful Volume Was Like A Degree In The School Of Reviewing. One Unread Work Makes The Judge Bitter Enough; But A Second Failure, And He Is Quite Desperate In His Damnation. I Do Believe One Half Of The Injustice - The Severity Of 'the Ungentle Craft' Originates In Its Own Want Of Success: They Cannot Forgive The Popularity Which Has Passed Them Over.

From Religion ... They Will Learn The Only True Lesson Of Equality - The Conviction That Our Destinies Are Not In Our Own Hands; They Will See That No Situation In Life Is Without Its Share Of Suffering; - And This Perpetual Reference To A Higher Power Ought Equally To Teach The Rich Humility, And The Poor Devotion.

There Is No Existence So Content As That Whose Present Is Engrossed By Employment, And Whose Future Is Filled By Some Strong Hope, The Truth Of Which Is Never Proved. Toil And Illusion Are The Only Secrets To Make Life Tolerable.

There Is No Wretchedness Like Self-reproach.

Are We Not Like The Actor Of Old Times, Who Wore His Mask So Long His Face Took Its Likeness?