Javanese Princess ( Raden Adjeng Kartini )

"Poor, poor parents, what a fate was yours to have such daughters!
We hope and pray fervently that they may be blessed with a long life,
and that later they will be proud of us even though we do not walk
abroad under glittering golden sunshades."

"We are only ordinary human beings, a mixture of evil
and of good like millions of others."

"When one lives among innocent surroundings,
it is not hard to be good, one does that of oneself.
And, it is certainly no credit to do no evil
when one has had no opportunity."

"Life is full of dark riddles and of secrets.
We think that we know so much, and all the time we know nothing!
We think that we have a will, an iron will,
and picture ourselves strong benough to move mountains--
then a burning tear, a sorrowful look
from eyes that we love, and our strength is gone."

"It is as though men on sinking ship complained because they had not remained at home,
investigated the cause of the misfortune, and punished those responsible for it.
That would not prevent the ship from going down; they would be drowned just the same,
and only the courage of the hand at the rudder, and pumping at the leak,
could have saved them from destruction."

"Without strife there can be no victory. I shall strive, and I shall win."

"Be brave have faith and courage, this cannot last forever, some way will be found, be brave!"

"Circumstances can come into life, which in the twinkling of an eye will turn a hero into a coward.
Do not judge any deed, never mind how base it may appear, till you know all the causes which lead to it."

"I have grown old, both outwardly and inwardly, but that little spot in my heart
where love is written in golden letters remains the same, for ever young."

"It is the eternal law of nature: those who bear, must feel the pain of bearing;
but the child has all our love, though its very existence,
above that of all others living, has harassed us.
Though it has been received through suffering, it is eternally precious to us."