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Exaggerated ideas of compassion, of humanity, lead to cruelty. To find out how.
The multitude of books takes away the taste for them and kills the pleasure.
February 13.
Most men indeed seem, in mind and heart, to be only beings barely roughed out, still formless, and beginnings of what they are to become. Some of the best among them have this character more evidently. (Observation of February 13 at play).
A flower that cannot flower, a bud that cannot open.
Concise as a poet. Poetic concision.—The poet’s character is to be brief, that is, perfect, absolutus, as the Latins said. The orator’s is to be flowing, abundant, spacious, spread out, varied, inexhaustible, immense.
To seek wisdom rather than truth. It is more within our reach.
February 22.
Chance is a share that providence has reserved for itself in the affairs of this world, a share over which he wished men to be unable even to believe they had any influence.
We like to instruct. How the laws can turn this natural disposition to account.
Pontiff and king. Every head of a family must be both in his house.
February 26.
Anger makes one dexterous.
March 1.
Democracy and slavery inseparable. Why.
Democracy, as it existed among the ancients, is only government by a number of men large enough to be called a people. But this designation is false. The true people, in such a state, the greater number, the majority, is in the class of slaveries, and slavery inevitably enters a country governed in this way, because it is impossible for those who spend their time making laws to make shoes, clothes, sow, plow, etc.
Sunday, March 5.
There must be small vessels lining the throat and giving it its velvet. They soften the voice as it passes. They mold it and give roundness to all our sounds. Shrieking breaks them. Then rough places form in the tube of the speaking trumpet. Its inner surface, formerly smooth and soft, becomes uneven, bristling. It makes our speech harsh. In shaping children’s temper and allowing nothing loud or imperious in their tone, one works to shape their voice.
There are such harsh words. They scrape the velvet of the speaking trumpet.