For ever I shall be on the point of a break-down, and each successive one will bring me nearer to some final catastrophe--perhaps the lunatic asylum--who knows ?' 'I should think,' she said gravely, 'that you suggested a truth.

Very likely your mind will contract its range and cease to aim at the impossible.' 'But tell me, have you not yourself already attained that wisdom?
Why should you make pretences of feebleness which does not mark you?
You have a mind as active as my own; I know that perfectly well.

What is your secret of contentment?
Won't you help me in this miserable plight ?' 'No, Mr.Athel, I have none but very ordinary powers of mind, and perhaps it is my recognition of that which keeps me contented.

There is indeed one principle of guidance which I have worked out for myself--' 'Ah! And that ?' 'It will not enlighten you, for it is only the choice of a natural and easy course, seeing that difficult ones are closed.

The literature of learning is out of my reach, so I limit myself to the literature of beauty, and in this I try to keep to the best.' 'You are right, you are right! To know the masterpieces of literature, pure literature, poetry in its widest sense; that is the wise choice.
Think; we feed ourselves with the secondhand wisdom of paltry philosophisers and critics, and Shakespeare waits outside the door with the bread of life.