Tannhäuser

“As machineries for the exercise of spiritual and intellectual powers innate or developed, certain sets of symbols may be more or less convenient to a special trend of mind, reason, or imagination; no more: I deny to any one religion the possession of any essential truth which is not also formulated (though in a different language) in every other.”

“Less joy, Less laughter, yes! that symptom I approve; Yet is that subtle fading-out of smiles Rather the coming of a dull despair, And not at all that keen despair, that sharp Maddening pain that should torment a man With deadliest delight, the self-same hour That he unveils the Isis of desire.”

“Sing not of love, the unutterable one, The love divine that Mary has to men. Seek not the winepress and the rising sun Beyond thy ken!”

“To logic there is one reality, Words. But the commonsense of humankind By logic baffles logic, chains with Deed The lion Thought. It is a circle, friends!”