The Ambassadors by Henry James

Classic Henry James novel. According to the Preface, the essence of the novel is expressed in the following speech: Live all you can; its a mistake not to. It doesnt so much matter what you do in particular so long as you have your life. If you havent had that what HAVE you had? Im too old--too old at any rate for what I see. What one loses one loses; make no mistake about that. Still, we have the illusion of freedom; therefore dont, like me to-day, be without the memory of that illusion. I was either, at the right time, too stupid or too intelligent to have it, and now Im a case of reaction against the mistake. Do what you like so long as you dont make it. For it WAS a mistake. Live, live!