328 quotes
For is not a Symbol ever, to him who has eyes for it, some dimmer or clearer revelation of the God-like?
Sartor Resartus (1833)
Doubt is natural to a human being, for his conceptions are infinite, his powers are only finite.
Wotton Reinfred (1827)
It is not a lucky word, this same impossible; no good comes of those that have it so often in their mouth.
Misery which, through long ages, had no spokesman, no helper, will now be its own helper and speak for itself.
The French Revolution. A History (1837)
Histories are as perfect as the Historian is wise, and is gifted with an eye and a soul.
How does the poet speak to men with power, but by being still more a man than they?
Critical and Miscellaneous Essays (1827)
How much lies in Laughter: the cipher-key, wherewith we decipher the whole man.
He that has a secret should not only hide it, but hide that he has it to hide.
The French Revolution. A History (1837)
If a book come from the heart, it will contrive to reach other hearts; all art and authorcraft are of small amount to that.
Heroes and Hero Worship (1840)
Not brute force but only persuasion and faith are the kings of this world.
We have not the love of greatness, but the love of the love of greatness.
Piety does not mean that a man should make a sour face about things, and refuse to enjoy in moderation what his Maker has given.
Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness.
Past and Present (1843)
The wise man is but a clever infant, spelling letters from a hieroglyphical prophetic book, the lexicon of which lies in eternity.
The true Sovereign of the world, who moulds the world like soft wax, according to his pleasure, is he who lovingly sees into the world.
O poor mortals, how ye make this earth bitter for each other.
The French Revolution. A History (1837)
There is endless merit in a man's knowing when to have done.
Critical and Miscellaneous Essays (1827)
A witty statesman said, you might prove anything by figures.
Chartism (1840)
Worship of a hero is transcendent admiration of a great man.
Heroes and Hero-Worship (1840)
What you see, yet can not see over, is as good as infinite.
Sartor Resartus (1833)