Jacob Purhard

“¿Cabe libertad donde no hay elección? ¿Cabe elección donde no se conoce más que uno de los términos en que ha de consistir?”
― Leopoldo Alas, La regenta

“That is to say: Toward the accomplishment of an aim which in wantonness of malignity would seem to partake of the insane, he will direct a cool judgement sagacious and sound. These men are true madmen, and of the most dangerous sort, for their lunacy is not continuous but occasional, evoked by some special object; it is probably secretive, which is as much to say it is self-contained, so that when moreover, most active, it is to the average mind not distinguishable from sanity, and for the reason above suggested that whatever its aims may be--and the aim is never declared--the method and the outward proceeding are always perfectly rational.”
― Herman Melville, Billy Budd, Sailor

“Steadfast a lamp burns sheltered from the wind;
Such is the likeness of the Yogi's mind
Shut from sense-storms and burning bright to Heaven.”
― Edwin Arnold, The Song celestial; or, Bhagabad-gîtâ (from the Mahâbhârata) being a discourse between Arjuna, prince of India, and the Supreme Being under the form of Krishna

“If I gained one thing from philosophy is that at the very least, I am well prepared to confront any change in fortune.”
― Diogenes of Sinope