“A quest for self-respect is proof of its lack”

“Lack one lacks both, and the unseen is proved by the seen,Till that becomes unseen and receives proof in its turn.”

“I am not worthy of my suffering. A great sentence. It suggests not only that suffering is the basis of the self, its sole indubitable ontological proof, but also that it is the one feeling most worthy of respect; the value of all values.”

“It is a wretched thing that the young men of today are so contriving and so proud of their material posessions. Men with contriving hearts are lacking in duty. Lacking in duty, they will have no self-respect.”

“People need self-respect, but self-respect must be earned -- it cannot be self-respect if it's not earned -- and the only way to earn anything is to achieve it in the face of the possibility of failing.”

“It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's rather that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.”