I agree that asceticism can be overdone. It has its place as one means—not the only one—of self-mastery; but asceticism that cuts away life is an exaggeration, […]
You are listening too much to the suggestions of the outer consciousness, “not being able”, etc. etc. Since you did begin to open a little for a time, […]
Self-pity is always born of self-love; but pity for others is not always born of love for its object. It is sometimes a self regarding shrinking from the […]