You Never Know The World Aright
by Thomas Traherne (1636-1674) You never know the world aright till the Sea floweth in your Veins, till you are Clothed with the Heavens, and Crowned with the Stars; And perceive yourself to be the Sole Heir of the Whole World; And more then so, because Men are in it who are every one Sole Heirs, as well as you. Till you are intimately Acquainted with that Shady Nothing out of which this World was made; Till your spirit filleth the whole World and the Stars are your Jewels Till you love Men so as to Desire their Happiness with a thirst equal to the zeal of your own. from Centuries of Meditation