Carefully Quotes (page 52)
Thou knowest all; I seek in vain. What lands to till or sow with seed -The land is black with briar and weed, Nor cares for falling tears or rain. Thou knowest all; I sit and wait. With blinded eyes and hands that fail, Till the last lifting of the veil. And the first opening of the gate. Thou knowest all; I cannot see. I trust I shall not live in vain, I know that we shall meet again. In some divine eternity.
Oscar Wilde
the very notion of personality, which is what we are trying to get at here, seems to have very limited application to me and quite possibly to everyone else. Self is another dodgy concept, since I am, when I subject this 'I' to careful inspection, not much more than a flickering of affinities, habits, memories, and predilections that could go either way- towards neediness or independence for example courage or cowardice.
Barbara Ehrenreich