So man’s insanity is heaven’s sense; and wandering from all mortal reason, man comes at last to that celestial thought, which, to reason, is absurd and frantic; and weal or woe, feels then uncompromised, indifferent as his God.
There are three things, and three things only, that can lift the pain of mortality and ease the ravages of life. These things are wine, women and song.
Mortals are easily tempted to pinch the life out of their neighbor’s buzzing glory, and think that such killing is no murder.
It is only when caught in the swift, sudden turn of death, that mortals realize the silent, subtle, everpresent perils of life.
Be sure of this, O young ambition, all mortal greatness is but disease.