Robertson Davies said this quote

“ If a man wants to be of the greatest possible value to his fellow-creatures let him begin the long solitary task of perfecting himself. ”

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The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.

~ Robertson Davies

Robertson Davies Belief Bias Knowledge Perception Philosophy Reality

I am quite a wise old bird, but I am no desert hermit who can only prophesy when his guts are knotted with hunger. I am deep in the old man’s puzzle, trying to link the wisdom of the body with the wisdom of the spirit until the two are one.

~ Robertson Davies

Robertson Davies Fate Life And Death Wisdom

But the character of the music emphasized the tale as allegory--humorous, poignant, humane allegory--disclosing the metamorphosis of life itself, in which man moves from confident inexperience through the bitterness of experience, toward the rueful wisdom of self-knowledge.

~ Robertson Davies

Robertson Davies Inexperience Life Music Self Knowledge Wisdom

Happiness is always a by-product. It is probably a matter of temperament, and for anything I know it may be glandular. But it is not something that can be demanded from life, and if you are not happy you had better stop worrying about it and see what treasures you can pluck from your own brand of unhappiness.

~ Robertson Davies

Robertson Davies Happiness Pessimism Unhappiness