Henri Frederic Amiel
Henri Frederic Amiel
Henri Frédéric Amielwas a Swiss moral philosopher, poet, and critic...
NationalitySwiss
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth27 September 1821
CountrySwitzerland
philosophical race together
Are we not all shipwrecked,...condemned to death?... However impatient our neighbours make us, however much indignation our race arouses, we are all bound together, and the companions of a chain-gang have everything to lose by mutual insults...
philosophical able phantoms
A microscopic phantom of the universe; this is all that we are able to be.
philosophical men judging
The philosopher is like a man fasting in the midst of universal intoxication. He alone perceives the illusion of which all creatures are the willing playthings; he is less duped than his neighbor by his own nature. He judges more sanely, he sees things as they are. It is in this that his liberty consists - in the ability to see clearly and soberly, in the power of mental record.
soul suffering witness
Its way of suffering is the witness which a soul bares to itself.
capable living
So as long as a person is capable of self-renewal, they are a living being.
exercises faith inevitable life profession silent
Every life is a profession of faith and exercises an inevitable and silent influence.
action becomes
Action is only coarsened thought; thought becomes concrete, obscure, and unconscious.
crushing destiny fate fulfilling refusing ways wishes
Destiny has two ways of crushing us -- by refusing our wishes and by fulfilling them.
Tell me what you think you are and I will tell you what you are not
action both criticism faith liking order persistent troubled truth
A lively, disinterested, persistent liking for truth is extraordinarily rare. Action and faith enslave thought, both of them in order not to be troubled or inconvenienced by reflection, criticism or doubt.
french passion thirst truth
The thirst for truth is not a French passion
according duty
Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires, but according to our powers.
advice haste life swift
Life is short. Be swift to love! Make haste to be kind!
haste hearts life short swift time travel
Life is short and we never have enough time for gladdening the hearts of those who travel the way with us. Oh, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind.