The passions are at once our masters and our deceivers;--they urge us onward, yet present no limit to our progress.

The farther we proceed, the more dim and shadowy grows the goal.

It is impossible for a man who leads the life of the world, the life of the passions, ever to experience content.

For the life of the passions is that of a perpetual desire; but a state of content is the absence of all desire.

Thus philosophy has become another name for mental quietude; and all wisdom points to a life of intellectual indifference, as the happiest which earth can bestow." "This may be true enough," said Lester, reluctantly; "but--" "But what ?" "A something at our hearts--a secret voice--an involuntary impulse--rebels against it, and points to action--action, as the true sphere of man." A slight smile curved the lip of the Student; he avoided, however, the argument, and remarked, "Yet, if you think so, the world lies before you; why not return to it ?" "Because constant habit is stronger than occasional impulse; and my seclusion, after all, has its sphere of action--has its object." "All seclusion has." "All?
Scarcely so; for me, I have my object of interest in my children." "And mine is in my books." "And engaged in your object, does not the whisper of Fame ever animate you with the desire to go forth into the world, and receive the homage that would await you ?" "Listen to me," replied Aram.