“Seeing the water birds on the lake increase in number day by day, I thought to myself how nice it would be if it snowed before we got back to the Palace—the garden would look so beautiful; and then, two days later, while I was away on a short visit, lo and behold, it did snow. As I watched the rather drab scene at home, I felt both depressed and confused. For some years now I had existed from day to day in listless fashion, taking note of the flowers, the birds in song, the way the skies change from season to season, the moon, the frost and snow, doing little more than registering the passage of time. How would it all turn out? The thought of my continuing loneliness was unbearable, and yet I had managed to exchange sympathetic letters with those of like mind—some contacted via fairly tenuous connections—who would discuss my trifling tales and other matters with me; but I was merely amusing myself with fictions, finding solace for my idleness in foolish words. Aware of my own insignificance, I had at least managed for the time being to avoid anything that might have been considered shameful or unbecoming; yet here I was, tasting the bitterness of life to the very full.”

To reporters at a European Union conference http://reuters.com/article/idUSKBN15L21P (6 February 2017)
2017

Statement in These Amazing Shadows (2011).

Speech in Syracuse (12 September 1912) PWW 25:145
1910s

" A Child's Christmas in Wales http://www.undermilkwood.net/prose_christmas.html", from Quite Early One Morning (1954)

Multatuli, The Oyster and the Eagle: Selected Aphorisms and Parables

2010s, I Need a Doctor (2011)

Attention Scum! (2001), How To Live (2005)

Source: Steppenwolf (1927), p. 218
Context: One day I would be a better hand at the game. One day I would learn how to laugh. Pablo was waiting for me, and Mozart too.