TemporaryOne — 21 years ago(December 17, 2004 02:23 PM)

You throw a torch into a pile of buildings; and when they are consumed you sit among the ruins and lament the fall.
The moon gazed on my midnight labours, while, with unrelaxed and breathless eagerness, I pursued nature to her hiding-places
The beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart
The labours of men of genius, however erroneously directed, scarcely ever fail in ultimately turning to the solid advantage of mankind
Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world
Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge and how much happier that man is who believes his native town to be the world, than he who aspires to become greater than his nature will allow
Seek happiness in tranquility and avoid ambition, even if it be only the apparently innocent one of distinguishing yourself in science and discoveries.