The nineteenth century, utilitarian throughout, set up a utilitarian interpretation of the phenomenon of life which has come down to us and may still be considered as the commonplace of everyday thinking. … An innate blindness seems to have closed the eyes of this epoch to all but those facts which show life as a phenomenon of utility History as a System
“There is nothing which for my part I like better, Cephalus, than conversing with aged men; for I regard them as travellers who have gone a journey which I too may have to go, and of whom I ought to enquire, whether the way is smooth and easy, or rugged and difficult.” Republic
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
Variant: Death hangs over thee. While thou livest, while it is in thy power, be good. Book IV
Quotes