If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. – E.B. White, quoted in Israel Shenker, “E.B. White: Notes and Comment by Author,”

The world is hard and cruel. We are here none knows why, and we go none knows whither. We must be very humble. We must see the beauty of quietness. We must go through life so inconspicuously that Fate does not notice us. – W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, 1919

There is a time early in life when there seem to be countless reasons for happiness, and then you discover your mom is making them up. – Robert Brault, rbrault.blogspot.com