“I will persist until I succeed.
I was not deIivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd.”

Preface (18 July 1819), p. 4
The Bank of Faith and Works United (1819)
Context: As I am not a member of any community, no society can answer for my irregular conduct; neither do I wish to apologize to the world for my procedure; as I believe the Lord is my Shepherd, and Bishop of my soul.
Duty to my Maker, excites me to faithfulness, knowing that life is the time to work for God; that I may be counted worthy to reign with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in "the city of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem."

"Between Nothingness and Eternity", p. 14
My Flute (1972)

as quoted from " I am a Filipino http://library.thinkquest.org/28616/CPR.htm" at library.thinkquest.org

Ovunque i mi sia, io sono Amore.
Ne'pastori non men, che ne gli heroi;
E la disagguaglianza de'soggetti,
Come à me piace, agguaglio.
Prologue
Aminta (1573)

"The Silent Shepherds" (1958)
Context: I will have shepherds for my philosophers,
Tall dreary men lying on the hills all night
Watching the stars, let their dogs watch the sheep. And I'll have lunatics
For my poets, strolling from farm to farm, wild liars distorting
The country news into supernaturalism —
For all men to such minds are devils or gods — and that increases
Man's dignity, man's importance, necessary lies
Best told by fools.

Dialogues on Metaphysics (1688) Dialogue III
Variant translation: I am not a light unto myself.

Lines on his Promised Pension; reported in Thomas Fuller, Worthies of England, vol ii, page 379, and in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

Source: Stranger in a Strange Land