Maxioms Pet

X
  •   11  /  16  

    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.

Share to:

You May Also Like   /   View all maxioms

  ( comments )
  18  /  44  

Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a read more

Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill.

by Barbara W. Tuchman Found in: Literature Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  31  /  29  

A great literature is chiefly the product of inquiring minds in revolt against the immovable certainties of the nation.

A great literature is chiefly the product of inquiring minds in revolt against the immovable certainties of the nation.

by H. L. Mencken Found in: Literature Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  21  /  18  

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.

by Montesquieu Found in: Literature Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  26  /  27  

In books, the proportion of exceptional to commonplace people is very high; in reality, very low.

In books, the proportion of exceptional to commonplace people is very high; in reality, very low.

by Aldous Huxley Found in: Literature Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  42  /  50  

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.

A university is what a college becomes when the faculty loses interest in students.

  ( comments )
  24  /  28  

University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.

University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.

  ( comments )
  15  /  18  

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.

by Russell Green Found in: Literature Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  13  /  17  

The schoolmaster is abroad! And I trust to him armed with his primer against the soldier in full military array.

The schoolmaster is abroad! And I trust to him armed with his primer against the soldier in full military array.

by Jeremy Bentham Found in: Literature Quotes,
Share to:
  ( comments )
  25  /  25  

If someone had told me I would be Pope one day, I would have studied harder.

If someone had told me I would be Pope one day, I would have studied harder.

by Joseph Joubert Found in: Literature Quotes,
Share to:
Maxioms Web Pet