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To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so much by truth as by preference, and good and evil report alike know no bounds.

Petrarch

I looked back at the summit of the mountain, which seemed but a cubit high in comparison with the height of human contemplation, were in not too often merged in the corruptions of the earth.
PETRARCH

Comparison Earth Mountain Myself
Who over-refines his argument brings himself to grief
PETRARCH

Argument Grief Refine
Death had his grudge against me, and he got up in the way, like an armed robber, with a pike in his hand.
PETRARCH

Death Grudge Hands Himself
Five enemies of peace inhabit with us – avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.
PETRARCH

Ambition Enemy Enjoyment Jealous Peace
I know and love the good, yet, ah! the worst pursue.
PETRARCH

Goodness Known Love Pursue Worst
I would have preferred to have been born in any other time than our own.
PETRARCH

Born Ourselves Preference Time
How fortune brings to earth the over-sure!
PETRARCH

Earth Fortune
Continued work and application form my soul’s nourishment. So soon as I commenced to rest and relax I should cease to live.
PETRARCH

Application Live Myself Nourishment Soul Work
A short cut to riches is to subtract from our desires.
PETRARCH

Desire Ourselves Rich
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.
PETRARCH

Bitter Burn Freeze Memories Myself Sweet
Rarely do great beauty and great virtue dwell together.
PETRARCH

Greatness Togetherness
For death betimes is comfort, not dismay, and who can rightly die needs no delay.
PETRARCH

Comfort Death Need Right
Life in itself is short enough, but the physicians with their art, know to their amusement, how to make it still shorter.
PETRARCH

Amusement Enough Life Short
Great errors seldom originate but with men of great minds.
PETRARCH

Error Men Mind
Events appear sad, pleasant, or painful, not because they are so in reality, but because we believe them to be so and the light in which we look at them depends upon our own judgment.
PETRARCH

Appearance Judgement Ourselves Pain Reality Sadness
Often on earth the gentlest heart is fain To feed and banquet on another’s woe.
PETRARCH

Earth Enemy Heart

To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so much by truth as by preference, and good and evil report alike know no bounds.

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To begin with myself, then, the utterances of men concerning me will differ widely, since in passing judgment almost every one is influenced not so much by truth as by preference, and good and evil report alike know no bounds.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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