Matthew Arnold ( 10 of 61 )
Every time the words "contrition" or "humility" drop from the lips of a prophet or psalmist, Christianity appears.
Every time the words "contrition" or "humility" drop from the lips of a prophet or psalmist, Christianity appears.
 Culture is the passion for sweetness and light, and (what is 
more) the passion for making them prevail.  
 Culture is the passion for sweetness and light, and (what is 
more) the passion for making them prevail. 
 Odin, thou whirlwind, what a threat is this
 Thou threatenest what transcends thy might, even thine,
  For read more 
 Odin, thou whirlwind, what a threat is this
 Thou threatenest what transcends thy might, even thine,
  For of all powers the mightiest far art thou,
   Lord over men on earth, and Gods in Heaven;
    Yet even from thee thyself hath been withheld
     One thing--to undo what thou thyself hast ruled. 
 No, no! The energy of life may be
 Kept on after the grave, but not begun;
  And read more 
 No, no! The energy of life may be
 Kept on after the grave, but not begun;
  And he who flagg'd not in the earthly strife,
   From strength to strength advancing--only he
    His soul well-knit, and all his battles won,
     Mounts, and that hardly, to eternal life. 
Poetry is simply the most beautiful, impressive, and widely effective mode of saying things
Poetry is simply the most beautiful, impressive, and widely effective mode of saying things
 Her cabin'd ample spirit,
 It fluttered and fail'd for breath;
  Tonight it doth inherit
   read more 
 Her cabin'd ample spirit,
 It fluttered and fail'd for breath;
  Tonight it doth inherit
   The vasty hall of death. 
Still bent to make some port he knows not where, still standing for some false impossible shore.
Still bent to make some port he knows not where, still standing for some false impossible shore.
 Others abide our question. Thou art free.
 We ask and ask--Thou smilest and art still,
  Out-topping knowledge.  
 Others abide our question. Thou art free.
 We ask and ask--Thou smilest and art still,
  Out-topping knowledge. 
Genius is mainly an affair of energy, and poetry is mainly an affair of genius; therefore a nation whose spirit read more
Genius is mainly an affair of energy, and poetry is mainly an affair of genius; therefore a nation whose spirit is characterized by energy may well be imminent in poetry - and we have Shakespeare.
The grand style arises in poetry, when a noble nature, treats with simplicity or with severity a serious subject
The grand style arises in poetry, when a noble nature, treats with simplicity or with severity a serious subject