Desultory thoughts and reflectionsMIDDLE AGE.Reading editionChapter navigation358 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…Front matterKNOWLEDGE OF LIFE.BEING UNDERSTOOD.SACRIFICES.MUSIC.MINDS.LOVERS.LOVE AND ENTHUSIASM.PATH OF LIFE.MINDS.KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD.CHARACTER OF MAN.PRECOCIOUS WISDOM.STRENGTH OF MIND.CONTEMPLATION.PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION.POLITENESS.CONSCIENCE.PRESENTIMENTS.YOUTH AND AGE.CONFIDENCES.COMMON MISTAKES.JUDGMENT OF WOMEN ON MEN.LOVE.GRATITUDE.MEN AND WOMEN.LIFE.MATURITY.THE POETRY OF LIFE.HONOUR AND CHASTITY.SOCIETY.IDEAS.SELFISH MEN.ILLUSIONS.HAPPINESS.SOLITUDE.SEVERITY TO OTHERS.YOUTH.HAPPINESS.HATRED.MEMORY.AMUSING MEN.TRUTH.COURAGE.BORES.SYMPATHY.PLEASURE.FRIENDS.IDEA.ARISTOCRACY.WANT OF THOUGHT.WISDOM.ADMIRATION.VIRTUE.FORGIVENESS.TRIALS.PRINCIPLES.TRUTH.AN UNPOPULAR MAN.TIME.KNOWLEDGE.LOVE.VICES.VIRTUE.INGRATITUDE.BALM FOR MISFORTUNES.SOCIETY.COURAGE.SUPERSTITION.SELF-EXAMINATION.SOCIETY.IMAGINATION.FLOWERS.SORROW.TRUTH AND PHYSIC.CUNNING AND VANITY.PRECOCIOUS WISDOM.SCEPTICS.SCANDAL.THE SELFISH MAN.FEMALE EDUCATION.SUPERSTITION.SOCIETY AND SOLITUDE.HAPPINESS.AUTHORS.AMBITIOUS PEOPLE.ICONOCLAST.PATIENCE.ENVY.VICE AND VIRTUE.FORGIVENESS OF ENEMIES.FAITH.INFIRMITIES OF GENIUS.INDULGENCE TOWARDS OTHERS.AFFECTIONS.APPETITE.PARDON.SOCIETY.FAME.FORTITUDE AND RESIGNATION.FAULTS.FORGIVENESS.POLISHED MEN.RESIGNATION.ANGER.SOCIETY.LIFE.FUTURITY.DUST.FALSE WIT.POLITICS.FAME.LOVE AND JEALOUSY.LUXURIES.LOVE.SHORT MEMORIES.DESPOTISM AND DEMOCRACY.DEMORALISATION.SOCIETY.ASSOCIATES.RESPECT.SATIRE.STYLE.DECLAIMERS AGAINST THE WORLD.ROUGH MEN.FAITH.REASON.SORROW.REVOLUTIONS.DESTINY.PHILOSOPHY.BON MOTS.VIRTUE.KINGS AND BEAUTIES.FLOWERS.AGE.POETS.PASSION.REVOLUTIONS.MODESTY.CUNNING.POLITENESS.GREAT MEN.MOURNERS.FORTUNE.MEN OF GENIUS.GENEROUS AND SELFISH MINDS.FRIENDS.PREJUDICES.APPEARANCES.PLEASURES.CONCEIT.FRIENDS.GRATITUDE.VIRTUE.JUDGMENT OF WORKS.AMBITION.GENIUS.KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD.WEAK MEN.WIT.VIRTUE.WORKS.PUBLIC.CIVILIZATION.AFFLICTION.PASSIONS.GENIUS.MEDIOCRITY.PHILOSOPHY.GOOD TALKERS.PREMATURE WISDOM.MEN OF GENIUS.POPULARITY.POOR.METAPHYSICS.PROSPERITY.FLATTERY.FAULTS.BELIEF IN GOODNESS.MERE MORTALS.POETS AND ASTRONOMERS.GRIEF.PHILOSOPHERS.MONEY.VIRTUE.QUALITIES.PEACE OF MIND.ARITHMETIC.SACRIFICES.ADVERSITY.GRIEF.SOLITUDE.REFLECTION.MELANCHOLY.AGE.POLITENESS.AGE.FATALITY.QUALITIES.STORMS.QUALITIES.SATIRE.FAULTS.WISDOM.WIT.SELF-KNOWLEDGE.FRIENDS.FRIEND AND WIFE.ADVICE.THE FUTURE.TIME.WRITER.FALSE APPEARANCES.PREJUDICES.PRIDE.PRAISE.TIME.GUARDIANS.PASSION.THE ART OF PLEASING.GRIEF.PLAGIARISMS.HAPPINESS.FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.SORROW.SELF-KNOWLEDGE.CONVERSATION.MISFORTUNE.HOME.POLITICS.PASSION.MISTAKES.OSTENTATION.MEN AND WOMEN.OSTENTATION.CONVERSATION.OPINION.FEAR.MIDDLE AGE.MORAL COURAGE.THOUGHT.CELEBRITY AND NOTORIETY.MEMORIES.TRIALS.COURAGE.BEAUTY.THOUGHT.COQUETTES.MALICE.MEDIOCRITY.MODERN REFINEMENT.THOUGHT.COMMON SENSE.TALENTS.FEELINGS.NATURE.DEATH.FORGIVENESS.NECESSITY.ESPRIT FORT.EXPERIENCE.ERRORS.FRIENDSHIP.DUTIES.FASHION.FLATTERY.DEATH.FRIENDS.PASSION.SORROW.PRIDE.HAPPINESS.GENIUS.GREAT MEN.SOCIETY.BOYS AND MEN.HERMITS.BLIGHTED HOPES.HAPPINESS.PECULIARITIES OF MINDS.THE HEART.CONSOLATION.EXPERIENCE.DIFFICULTIES.CHARACTERS.LOVE.DEATH.DEATH-BED.CONTACT WITH SUPERIOR MINDS.CONFESSION.LOVE.LOVE-MATCHES.WOMEN.LIFE.COURAGE.LIGHT LITERATURE.DECEIVERS.CONCEALED GRIEF.WOMEN.EMINENT MEN.LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.PEDANTS.WIT.EXPERIENCE.ENVY.THE PAST.PITY.PRIDE AND VANITY.WEAKNESSES.PRODIGALS.EXISTENCE.WOMEN.PLEASURE.POETRY.COSMETICS.COURTIERS.MISFORTUNES.WOMEN.MEDIOCRITY.COSMETICS.MEN.MORALISTS.WOMEN.CONSCIENCE.MINDS.CONSCIENCE.MISFORTUNES.YOUTH AND MATURITY.CONSCIENCE.CATHERINE OF RUSSIA.MOURNERS.MEMORIES.COURAGE AND VIRTUE.CUSTOM.LIFE.YOUTHFUL LOVERS.SPRING AND AUTUMN.TRUE AND FALSE FRIENDS.VIRTUE.MARRIAGE.FÊTES.LEVELLERS.EXPERIENCE.ADVERSITY.MISFORTUNES.LIBERTY.AGE.CONTENT.FRIENDSHIP.TRIALS.LIFE.LOVE AND VANITY.ON SEEING PRINCE TALLEYRAND SUFFERING UNDER A SEVERE COLD.FRIENDS.PRIDE AND POVERTY.LIBERTY.MANNERS.Previous chapter ←FEAR.Next chapter →MORAL COURAGE.All chapters and sections (358)Opening pagesFront matterOther sectionsKNOWLEDGE OF LIFE.BEING UNDERSTOOD.SACRIFICES.MUSIC.MINDS.LOVERS.LOVE AND ENTHUSIASM.PATH OF LIFE.MINDS.KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD.CHARACTER OF MAN.PRECOCIOUS WISDOM.STRENGTH OF MIND.CONTEMPLATION.PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION.POLITENESS.CONSCIENCE.PRESENTIMENTS.YOUTH AND AGE.CONFIDENCES.COMMON MISTAKES.JUDGMENT OF WOMEN ON MEN.LOVE.GRATITUDE.MEN AND WOMEN.LIFE.MATURITY.THE POETRY OF LIFE.HONOUR AND CHASTITY.SOCIETY.IDEAS.SELFISH MEN.ILLUSIONS.HAPPINESS.SOLITUDE.SEVERITY TO OTHERS.YOUTH.HAPPINESS.HATRED.MEMORY.AMUSING MEN.TRUTH.COURAGE.BORES.SYMPATHY.PLEASURE.FRIENDS.IDEA.ARISTOCRACY.WANT OF THOUGHT.WISDOM.ADMIRATION.VIRTUE.FORGIVENESS.TRIALS.PRINCIPLES.TRUTH.AN UNPOPULAR MAN.TIME.KNOWLEDGE.LOVE.VICES.VIRTUE.INGRATITUDE.BALM FOR MISFORTUNES.SOCIETY.COURAGE.SUPERSTITION.SELF-EXAMINATION.SOCIETY.IMAGINATION.FLOWERS.SORROW.TRUTH AND PHYSIC.CUNNING AND VANITY.PRECOCIOUS WISDOM.SCEPTICS.SCANDAL.THE SELFISH MAN.FEMALE EDUCATION.SUPERSTITION.SOCIETY AND SOLITUDE.HAPPINESS.AUTHORS.AMBITIOUS PEOPLE.ICONOCLAST.PATIENCE.ENVY.VICE AND VIRTUE.FORGIVENESS OF ENEMIES.FAITH.INFIRMITIES OF GENIUS.INDULGENCE TOWARDS OTHERS.AFFECTIONS.APPETITE.PARDON.SOCIETY.FAME.FORTITUDE AND RESIGNATION.FAULTS.FORGIVENESS.POLISHED MEN.RESIGNATION.ANGER.SOCIETY.LIFE.FUTURITY.DUST.FALSE WIT.POLITICS.FAME.LOVE AND JEALOUSY.LUXURIES.LOVE.SHORT MEMORIES.DESPOTISM AND DEMOCRACY.DEMORALISATION.SOCIETY.ASSOCIATES.RESPECT.SATIRE.STYLE.DECLAIMERS AGAINST THE WORLD.ROUGH MEN.FAITH.REASON.SORROW.REVOLUTIONS.DESTINY.PHILOSOPHY.BON MOTS.VIRTUE.KINGS AND BEAUTIES.FLOWERS.AGE.POETS.PASSION.REVOLUTIONS.MODESTY.CUNNING.POLITENESS.GREAT MEN.MOURNERS.FORTUNE.MEN OF GENIUS.GENEROUS AND SELFISH MINDS.FRIENDS.PREJUDICES.APPEARANCES.PLEASURES.CONCEIT.FRIENDS.GRATITUDE.VIRTUE.JUDGMENT OF WORKS.AMBITION.GENIUS.KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD.WEAK MEN.WIT.VIRTUE.WORKS.PUBLIC.CIVILIZATION.AFFLICTION.PASSIONS.GENIUS.MEDIOCRITY.PHILOSOPHY.GOOD TALKERS.PREMATURE WISDOM.MEN OF GENIUS.POPULARITY.POOR.METAPHYSICS.PROSPERITY.FLATTERY.FAULTS.BELIEF IN GOODNESS.MERE MORTALS.POETS AND ASTRONOMERS.GRIEF.PHILOSOPHERS.MONEY.VIRTUE.QUALITIES.PEACE OF MIND.ARITHMETIC.SACRIFICES.ADVERSITY.GRIEF.SOLITUDE.REFLECTION.MELANCHOLY.AGE.POLITENESS.AGE.FATALITY.QUALITIES.STORMS.QUALITIES.SATIRE.FAULTS.WISDOM.WIT.SELF-KNOWLEDGE.FRIENDS.FRIEND AND WIFE.ADVICE.THE FUTURE.TIME.WRITER.FALSE APPEARANCES.PREJUDICES.PRIDE.PRAISE.TIME.GUARDIANS.PASSION.THE ART OF PLEASING.GRIEF.PLAGIARISMS.HAPPINESS.FRIENDS AND ENEMIES.SORROW.SELF-KNOWLEDGE.CONVERSATION.MISFORTUNE.HOME.POLITICS.PASSION.MISTAKES.OSTENTATION.MEN AND WOMEN.OSTENTATION.CONVERSATION.OPINION.FEAR.MIDDLE AGE.MORAL COURAGE.THOUGHT.CELEBRITY AND NOTORIETY.MEMORIES.TRIALS.COURAGE.BEAUTY.THOUGHT.COQUETTES.MALICE.MEDIOCRITY.MODERN REFINEMENT.THOUGHT.COMMON SENSE.TALENTS.FEELINGS.NATURE.DEATH.FORGIVENESS.NECESSITY.ESPRIT FORT.EXPERIENCE.ERRORS.FRIENDSHIP.DUTIES.FASHION.FLATTERY.DEATH.FRIENDS.PASSION.SORROW.PRIDE.HAPPINESS.GENIUS.GREAT MEN.SOCIETY.BOYS AND MEN.HERMITS.BLIGHTED HOPES.HAPPINESS.PECULIARITIES OF MINDS.THE HEART.CONSOLATION.EXPERIENCE.DIFFICULTIES.CHARACTERS.LOVE.DEATH.DEATH-BED.CONTACT WITH SUPERIOR MINDS.CONFESSION.LOVE.LOVE-MATCHES.WOMEN.LIFE.COURAGE.LIGHT LITERATURE.DECEIVERS.CONCEALED GRIEF.WOMEN.EMINENT MEN.LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.PEDANTS.WIT.EXPERIENCE.ENVY.THE PAST.PITY.PRIDE AND VANITY.WEAKNESSES.PRODIGALS.EXISTENCE.WOMEN.PLEASURE.POETRY.COSMETICS.COURTIERS.MISFORTUNES.WOMEN.MEDIOCRITY.COSMETICS.MEN.MORALISTS.WOMEN.CONSCIENCE.MINDS.CONSCIENCE.MISFORTUNES.YOUTH AND MATURITY.CONSCIENCE.CATHERINE OF RUSSIA.MOURNERS.MEMORIES.COURAGE AND VIRTUE.CUSTOM.LIFE.YOUTHFUL LOVERS.SPRING AND AUTUMN.TRUE AND FALSE FRIENDS.VIRTUE.MARRIAGE.FÊTES.LEVELLERS.EXPERIENCE.ADVERSITY.MISFORTUNES.LIBERTY.AGE.CONTENT.FRIENDSHIP.TRIALS.LIFE.LOVE AND VANITY.ON SEEING PRINCE TALLEYRAND SUFFERING UNDER A SEVERE COLD.FRIENDS.PRIDE AND POVERTY.LIBERTY.MANNERS.Middle age is an isthmus between youth and death.◇← FEAR.MORAL COURAGE. →