"I count life just a stuff to try the soul's strength on"
- Robert Browning
About this Quote
In this quote, Robert Browning is revealing his belief that life is a test for the strength of one's soul. He sees life as an obstacle, a "things" or material, that permits us to press ourselves and see what we are genuinely capable of. Browning recommends that the function of life is not simply to exist, however to actively engage with it and utilize it as a means to strengthen our inner selves. This quote encourages us to view life as an opportunity for development and self-discovery, rather than merely a series of occasions that take place to us.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"