"Men's natures are alike, it is their habits that carry them far apart." The Analects of Confucius

"Let us work without reasoning," said Martin; "it is the only way to make life endurable." Candide

Old age is always wakeful; as if, the longer linked with life, the less man has to do with aught that looks like death. Moby Dick

To experience conflicts knowingly, though it may be distressing, can be an invaluable asset. The more we face our own conflicts and seek out our own solutions, the more inner freedom and strength we will gain. Only when we are willing to bear the brunt can we approximate the ideal of being the captain of our ship. Spurious tranquillity rooted in inner dullness is anything but enviable. It is bound to make us weak and an easy prey to any kind of influence. Our Inner Conflicts: A Constructive Theory of Neurosis