Benedict (Baruch) de Spinoza (1632-77) was born, lived and died in Holland, where his family, who were Jews from Portugal, had come as refugees from the Inquisition. He was brought up in the Jewish faith, but was anathematized for his heretical opinions, which had been...
When he left this man he began to think things over again. He felt in his soul a strange confusion of contradictory ideas, a sort of interior burning; that mocking, impertinent laugh kept ringing in his ears and seemed to say: "Why; you are just...
The Bondels were a happy family, and although they frequently quarrelled about trifles, they soon became friends again. Bondel was a merchant who had retired from active business after saving enough to allow him to live quietly; he had rented a little house at Saint-Germain and...
The first thief of happiness is named control. This thief wants us to believe that we can control life rather than accept life on its terms. The great truth that came to the Buddha was that what causes unhappiness is the craving for life to...
Solon to Epimenides It seems that after all I was not to confer much benefit on Athenians by my laws, any more than you by purifying the city. For religion and legislation are not sufficient in themselves to benefit cities; it can only be done by...
In receiving the distinction with which your free Academy has so generously honoured me, my gratitude has been profound, particularly when I consider the extent to which this recompense has surpassed my personal merits. Every man, and for stronger reasons, every artist, wants to be...
XXV Alike for those who for To-day prepare, And those that after some To-morrow stare, A Muezzin from the Tower of Darkness cries "Fools! your Reward is neither Here nor There." XXXV Then to the lip of this poor earthen Urn I lean'd, the Secret of my Life to learn: And Lip to...
Buddha was camping outside a village called Amravan with his monks. He had come with ten thousand monks. The king of the village was told by his friends of Buddha's arrival. They urged him to meet Buddha, so the king went to meet him. It was...
When you pass from happiness to sadness, and from sadness to happiness, there is a moment of utter silence exactly in the middle—enjoy that too. Life has to be lived in all its dimensions, only then is life rich. The leftist is poor, the rightist is...
One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He climbed over rocks and under vines and kept going until he reached a...
