Desultory thoughts and reflections

No. 161 Broadway.

1839.

DESULTORY THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS.

KNOWLEDGE OF LIFE.

A profound knowledge of life is the least enviable of all species of knowledge, because it can only be acquired by trials that make us regret the loss of our ignorance.

BEING UNDERSTOOD.

When we find that we are not liked, we assert that we are not understood; when probably the dislike we have excited proceeds from our being too fully comprehended.

SACRIFICES.

Some persons are capable of making great sacrifices, but few are capable of concealing how much the effort has cost them; and it is this concealment that constitutes their value.

MUSIC.

Music often awakens long sleeping echoes in the soul; and, though never heard before, seems familiar to the ear, as some voice, loved in childhood, remembered in a dream.

MINDS.

Some minds may be said to resemble musical instruments: they possess powers, and if judiciously touched, give forth sweet sounds.

LOVERS.

Ninon de L’Enclos observes, that “if a man gives a woman wealth, it is only a proof of his generosity; but that if he gives her his time, it is a proof of his love.” This, however, cannot be considered as a conclusive proof, for, in giving their time, many men bestow that which is of no value to themselves or others.

LOVE AND ENTHUSIASM.

Love and enthusiasm are always ridiculous, when not reciprocated by their objects.

PATH OF LIFE.

Spontaneously, we render the path of life a weary one, and plant all the thorns that obstruct it: while the few stray flowers that cheer us, arise in some extraneous and contingent agency.

MINDS.

The minds of the young resemble new wine in a state of fermentation and effervescence; but the minds of the mature resemble old wine, which has lost its fiery particles, and retains only its strength and raciness.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD.

The knowledge of the world that enables us to escape from errors, can only be acquired by an experience which costs us many of our most cherished illusions.

CHARACTER OF MAN.

As storm following storm, and wave succeeding wave, give additional hardness to the shell that encloses the pearl, so do the storms and waves of life add force to the character of man.

PRECOCIOUS WISDOM.

Precocious wisdom is not desirable for youth, lest, like the rash blossom which ventures forth too early, it should be nipped ere it has strength to resist adversity.

STRENGTH OF MIND.

By relying on our own resources, we acquire mental strength; but, when we lean on others for support, we are like an invalid, who, having accustomed himself to a crutch, finds it difficult to walk without one.

CONTEMPLATION.

Contemplation displays to us the past events of our lives, which, during their occurrence, we saw not; as a calm clear day shows us the rocks and wrecks of the sea, which we discovered not while tossed on the turbulent surface of the waters.

PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION.

Philosophy was a boon bestowed by Reason to console mankind for the inevitable misfortunes of life, but being found insufficient for the task, she granted the blessing of Religion, a younger, a more gentle, and infallible consoler.

POLITENESS.

A substitute for goodness of heart.

CONSCIENCE.

A starving man, who committed theft, was asked by a pious person if his conscience had not cried out to him to forbear. “Alas!” replied he, “if it did, the cries of my stomach were so much louder, that they prevented me from hearing those of conscience.”

PRESENTIMENTS.

Presentiments are the heart’s prophecies; for the heart is a sibyl deeply skilled in all the mysteries of her own realm.

YOUTH AND AGE.