“Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of some one else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him. The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly -- that is what each of us is here for. People are afraid of themselves, nowadays. They have forgotten the highest of all duties, the duty that one owes to oneself. Of course they are charitable. They feed the hungry, and clothe the beggar. But their own souls starve, and are naked. Courage has gone out of our race. Perhaps we never really had it. The terror of society, which is the basis of morals, the terror of God, which is the secret of religion -- these are the two things that govern us.”
― The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Stories
― The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Stories
“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
― Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
― Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
“The terror of society, which is the basis of morals, the terror of God, which is the secret of religion - these are the two things that govern us,”
― The Picture of Dorian Gray
― The Picture of Dorian Gray
Francophonie
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Rassemblons les lecteurs francophones Que vous soyez de France, de Belgique, de Suisse, du Québec, ou de tout autre pays francophone, ou bien si vous ...more
Discovering Russian Literature
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— last activity Jun 09, 2026 05:36AM
Whether you are a newbie or an expert or simply love Russian literature... Welcome! This is a friendly group where you can share your thoughts an ...more
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