When men are quarrelling about the land, God is standing among them and whispering: "I am the Proprietor!" God may be either accompanying or pursuing you. It depends upon you. A lake at the foot of a mountain is a mirror for the mountain; just so is the past a mirror for mankind. A pine-tree looks towards heaven expecting with confidence rain, snow, or light. You can protect yourself from rain, snow and light, but there is no roof to protect you from death. Our life is obscure, our death is obscure; God is the only light of both. Our body is fragile, our soul is fragile; God is the only strength of both. Our works are dust, our hopes are dust; God only makes both enduring. From three sides God encircles us; He remains behind us in the past, He is with us in the present, and He awaits us in the future. * * * * * Death relieves a rich man more than a poor one, for from the poor man it takes only life, while from the rich it takes both life and fortune. If you cannot admire the animal's dull life, you must at least admire its noiseless death. The sea, when asked why it roared, replied: "To show men how petty their noisy quarrels are." An oak, when asked in what way it thought oaks superior to men, said: "We oaks are more decent in taking our food, for we hide our mouths and eat only in the darkness under the earth." A raven, when asked the difference between the flesh of an innocent man and a wicked one, replied: "The flesh of an innocent man supports my life, but the flesh of a wicked man is difficult for me to find." A dog knows the world by smell, a wolf by appetite, a bird by hearing, a worm by tasting, and a man by seeing. Are you afraid to touch the unclean man? The sun which is purer than you is not afraid. Except his soul, there is nothing in man which can be saved from corruption. A little dog said to a wolf: "Don't eat me now; when my teeth have grown, I will be sweeter for you." A calf said to the cow, its mother, who wore a heavy yoke: "You are old enough not to be so stupid as to wear a yoke." "Wait a little," replied the cow, "and by degrees you will take my burden, if you should not be roast meat sooner." * * * * * What is it to be a gentleman? To be the first to thank, and the last to complain. The words "Thank you" show that life is founded on injustice. Death is the cleverest thief. He can steal a living man who is surrounded by the most formidable guard. The water shines because the sun shines. Gold shines because the sun shines. Snow shines because the sun shines. The sun shines because God shines, and He shines because He is God. * * * * * Every tear is not a sign of distress; every smile is not a sign of joy. Wine and beauty can both intoxicate, but without passion neither can cause real intoxication.