Anais Nin on failure and adversity

Life is truly known only to those who suffer, lose, endure adversity and stumble from defeat to defeat.

~ Anais Nin

Anais Nin on life

Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.

~ Anais Nin

Anais Nin on death

I postpone death by living, by suffering, by error, by risking, by giving, by losing.

~ Anais Nin

Anais Nin on dreams

Dreams pass into the reality of action. From the actions stems the dream again; and this interdependence produces the highest form of living.

~ Anais Nin

Anais Nin on love and aging

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age.

~ Anais Nin

Anais Nin on friendship

What I cannot love, I overlook. Is that real friendship?

~ Anais Nin

Thomas Paine on politicians

The trade of governing has always been monopolized by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind.

~ Thomas Paine