Petrarch
Books come at my call and return when I desire them; they are never out of humor and they answer all my questions with readiness. Some present in review before me the events of past ages; others reveal to me the secrets of Nature. These teach me how to live, and those how to die; these dispel my melancholy by their mirth, and amuse me by their sallies of wit. Some there are who prepare my soul to suffer everything, to desire nothing, and to become thoroughly acquainted with itself. In a word, they open the door to all the arts and sciences.Collection: Art
From thought to thought, from mountain peak to mountain. Love leads me on; for I can never still My trouble on the world's well beaten ways.Collection: Journey
In my younger days I struggled constantly with an overwhelming but pure love affair - my only one, and I would have struggled with it longer had not premature death, bitter but salutary for me, extinguished the cooling flames. I certainly wish I could say that I have always been entirely free from desires of the flesh, but I would be lying if I did.Collection: Lying
How quick the old woe follows a little bliss!Collection: Littles
There is no lighter burden, nor more agreeable, than a pen. Other pleasures fail us or wound us while they charm, but the pen we take up rejoicing and lay down with satisfaction, for it has the power to advantage not only its lord and master, but many others as well, even though they be far away - sometimes, indeed, though they be not born for thousands of years to come.Collection: Years
Hitherto your eyes have been darkened and you have looked too much, yes, far too much, upon the things of earth. If these so much delight you what shall be your rapture when you lift your gaze to things eternal!Collection: Eye
Where are the numerous constructions erected by Agrippa, of which only the Pantheon remains? Where are the splendorous palaces of the emperors?Collection: Palaces
I know and love the good, yet, ah! the worst pursue.Collection: And Love
Hope is incredible to the slave of grief.Collection: Grief
Books never pall on me. They discourse with us, they take counsel with us, and are united to us by a certain living chatty familiarity. And not only does each book inspire the sense that it belongs to its readers, but it also suggests the name of others, and one begets the desire of the other.Collection: Life
Man has no greater enemy than himself. I have acted contrary to my sentiments and inclination; throughout our whole lives we do what we never intended, and what we proposed to do, we leave undone.Collection: Men
I freeze and burn, love is bitter and sweet, my sighs are tempests and my tears are floods, I am in ecstasy and agony, I am possessed by memories of her and I am in exile from myself.Collection: Sweet
Great errors seldom originate but with men of great minds.Collection: Men
Virtue is health, vice is sickness.Collection: Vices
While life is in your body, you have the rein of all thoughts in your hands.Collection: Hands
Mere elegance of language can produce at best but an empty renown.Collection: Style
A good death does honour to a whole life.Collection: Death
I rejoiced in my progress, mourned my weaknesses, and commiserated the universal instability of human conduct.Collection: Progress
I have taken pride in others, never in myself.Collection: Taken
I would have preferred to have been born in any other time than our own.Collection: Born
I desire that death find me ready and writing, or if it please Christ, praying and intears.Collection: Writing
Who over-refines his argument brings himself to griefCollection: Grief
The end of doubt is the beginning of repose.Collection: Doubt
For style beyond the genius never dares.Collection: Style
Wanting is not enough, long and you attain it.Collection: Long
I had got this far, and was thinking of what to say next, and as my habit is, I was pricking the paper idly with my pen. And I thought how, between one dip of the pen and the next, time goes on, and I hurry, drive myself, and speed toward death. We are always dying. I while I write, you while you read, and others while they listen or stop their ears, they are all dying.Collection: Writing
I have friends whose society is delightful to me; they are persons of all countries and of all ages; distinguished in war, in council, and in letters; easy to live with, always at my command.Collection: Country
What name to call thee by, O virgin fair, I know not, for thy looks are not of earth And more than mortal seems thy countenancesCollection: Names
For death betimes is comfort, not dismay, and who can rightly die needs no delay.Collection: Death
An equal doom clipp'd Time's blest wings of peace.Collection: Peace