“That element of tragedy which lies in the very fact of frequency, has not yet wrought itself into the coarse emotion of mankind; and perhaps our frames could hardly bear much of it. If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life, it would be like hearing the grass grow and the squirrel’s heart beat, and we should die of that roar which lies on the other side of silence. As it is, the quickest of us walk about well wadded with stupidity.”
― Middlemarch
― Middlemarch
“The press of my foot to the earth springs a hundred affections,
They scorn the best I can do to relate them.”
― Song of Myself
They scorn the best I can do to relate them.”
― Song of Myself
“But what we call our despair is often only the painful eagerness of unfed hope.”
― Middlemarch
― Middlemarch
“Our passions do not live apart in locked chambers, but, dressed in their small wardrobe of notions, bring their provisions to a common table and mess together, feeding out of the common store according to their appetite.”
― Middlemarch
― Middlemarch
“You can love a person dear to you with a human love, but an enemy can only be loved with divine love.”
― War and Peace
― War and Peace
Carl’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Carl’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
Favorite Genres
Polls voted on by Carl
Lists liked by Carl



















