There is no human reason why a child should not admire and emulate his teacher's ability to do sums, rather than the village bum's ability to whittle sticks and smoke cigarettes. The reason why the child does not is plain enough -- the bum has put himself on an equality with him and the teacher has not.
You May Also Like / View all maxioms
In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.
In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.
Here at lastWe shall be free;the Almighty hath not builtHere for his envy, will not drive us hence:Here we may read more
Here at lastWe shall be free;the Almighty hath not builtHere for his envy, will not drive us hence:Here we may reign secure, and in my choiceTo reign is worth ambition though in Hell:Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heaven. - Paradise Lost.
Literature is the art of writing something that will be read twice; journalism what will be grasped at once.
Literature is the art of writing something that will be read twice; journalism what will be grasped at once.
There is first the literature of knowledge, and secondly, the
literature of power. The function of the first is--to read more
There is first the literature of knowledge, and secondly, the
literature of power. The function of the first is--to teach; the
function of the second is--to move, the first is a rudder, the
second an oar or a sail. The first speaks to the mere discursive
understanding; the second speaks ultimately, it may happen, to
the higher understanding or reason, but always through affections
of pleasure and sympathy.
- Thomas De Quincey ("The Opium Eater"),
If a poet has any obligation toward society, it is to write well. Being in the minority, he has no read more
If a poet has any obligation toward society, it is to write well. Being in the minority, he has no other choice. Failing this duty, he sinks into oblivion. Society, on the other hand, has no obligation toward the poet. A majority by definition, society thinks of itself as having other options than reading verses, no matter how well written. Its failure to do so results in its sinking to that level of locution at which society falls easy prey to a demagogue or a tyrant. This is society's own equivalent of oblivion.
The great Cham of literature. (Samuel Johnson)
The great Cham of literature. (Samuel Johnson)
After all, all he did was string together a lot of old, well-known quotations.
After all, all he did was string together a lot of old, well-known quotations.
Poetry is an orphan of silence. The words never quite equal the experience behind them.
Poetry is an orphan of silence. The words never quite equal the experience behind them.
And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, read more
And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. - Isaiah 2:4.
