“the whole purpose of civilization is to take the surprises out of life, so one can be bored to death”

“The point of civilization is to be civilized; the purpose of action is to perpetuate society, for only in society can philosophy truly take place.”

“The purpose of man is like the purpose of a pollywog - to wiggle along as far as he can without dying; or, to hang to life until death takes him.”

“And I am bored to death with it. Bored to death with this place, bored to death with my life, bored to death with myself.”

“If I had my life to live over again, I would form the habit of nightly composing myself to thoughts of death. I would practice, as it were, the remembrance of death. There is not another practice which so intensifies life. Death, when it approaches, ought not to take one by surprise. It should be part of the full expectancy of life.”

“You can go a surprisingly long time without figuring out the kind of person you are and in what direction your life is taking you.”