a place Chosen by the sovran

from

Paradise Lost by         John Milton:

Singing their great Creator? oft in bands While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds In full harmonick number joined, their songs Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed On to their blissful bower: it was a place Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed All things to Man’s delightful use; the roof Of thickest covert was inwoven shade Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew …

The nightingale’s song

from

Jane Eyre by          Charlotte Bronte:

“I ask you to pass through life at my side–to be my second self, and best earthly companion.”
“For that fate you have already made your choice, and must abide by it.”
“Jane, be still a few moments: you are over-excited: I will be still too.”
A waft of wind came sweeping down the laurel-walk, and trembled through the boughs of the chestnut: it wandered away–away–to an indefinite distance–it died. The nightingale’s song was then the only voice of the hour: in listening to it, I again wept. Mr. Rochester sat quiet, looking at me gently and seriously. Some time …

a due payment

from

Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by                Martin Luther:
… whereby we can know God and His will. In Christ we perceive that God is not a cruel judge, but a most loving and merciful Father who to bless and to save us “spared not his own Son, but gave him up for us all.” This is truly to know God.
Those who do not know God in Christ arrive at this erroneous conclusion: “I will serve God in such and such a way. I will join this or that order. I will be active in this or that charitable endeavor.

God will sanction my good intentions and reward me with everlasting life. For is He not a merciful and generous Father who gives good things even to the unworthy and ungrateful? How much more will He grant unto me everlasting life as a due payment in return for my many good deeds and merits.” This is the religion of reason. This is …

“Love and harmony combine / And around our souls entwine / While thy branches mix with mine / And our roots together join”.

If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race,

creed and color, we would find some other cause for prejudice by noon.

George D. Aiken

Deligere oportet quem velis diligere. (Bisogna scegliere chi si vuole amare)

Cicerone

chagall-and-russian-theater

the falsehood that exalts

from

The Wife, et al by         Anton Chekhov:

” ‘How delicious!’
“And he ate them greedily, continually repeating, ‘Ah, how delicious! Do taste them!’
“They were sour and unripe, but, as Pushkin says:
” ‘Dearer to us the falsehood that exalts Than hosts of baser truths.’
“I saw a happy man whose cherished dream was so obviously fulfilled, who had attained his object in life, who had gained what he wanted, who was satisfied with his fate and himself. There is always, for some reason, an element of sadness mingled with my thoughts of human happiness, and, on this occasion, at …

it was only a dream

from

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by        Mark Twain:

… and then you looked so good, laying there asleep, that I thought I went and leaned over and kissed you on the lips.”
“Did you, Tom, DID you! I just forgive you everything for that!” And she seized the boy in a crushing embrace that made him feel like the guiltiest of villains.
“It was very kind, even though it was only a — dream,” Sid soliloquized just audibly.
“Shut up, Sid! A body does just the same in a dream as he’d do if he was awake. Here’s a big Milum apple I’ve been saving for you, Tom, if you …

No man ever steps in the same river twice,

for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.

Heraclitus