Quotes to inspire and reflect

Knowledge, if it does not determine action, is dead to us.

The stream of thought flows on; but most of its segments fall into the bottomless abyss of oblivion. Of some, no memory survives the instant of their passage. Of others, it is confined to a few moments, hours or days. Others, again, leave vestiges which are indestructible, and by means of which they may be recalled as long as life endures.

So it is with minds. Unless you keep them busy with some definite subject that will bridle and control them, they throw themselves in disorder hither and yon in the vague field of imagination. ..And there is no mad or idle fancy that they do no bring forth in the agitation.

Virtue and genuine graces in themselves speak what no words can utter.

In so far as the mind is stronger than the body, so are the ills contracted by the mind more severe than those contracted by the body.

As soon as any man says of the affairs of the State "What does it matter to me?" the State may be given up for lost.

To be feared is to fear: no one has been able to strike terror into others and at the same time enjoy peace of mind.

No beast is more savage than man when possessed with power answerable to his rage.

Where the speech is corrupted, the mind is also.

Let me not be understood as saying that there are no bad laws, nor that grievances may not arise for the redress of which no legal provisions have been made. I mean to say no such thing. But I do mean to say that although bad laws, if they exist, should be repealed as soon as possible, still, while they continue in force, for the sake of example they should be religiously observed.

Opinion is ultimately determined by the feelings, and not by the intellect.

A person may cause evil to others not only by his actions but by his inaction, and in either case he is justly accountable to them for the injury.

Study the past if you would define the future.

We should often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world understood our motives.

With most men, unbelief in one thing springs from blind belief in another.

There is a measure in everything. There are fixed limits beyond which and short of which right cannot find a resting place.

He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason.

Where there is much desire to learn, there of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinions in good men is but knowledge in the making.

The worst solitude is to be destitute of sincere friendship.

The worst derangement of the spirit is to believe things because we want them to be so, not because we have seen them for what they are.

A thing is not proved just because no one has ever questioned it. What has never been gone into impartially has never been properly gone into. Hence skepticism is the first step toward truth. It must be applied generally, because it is the touchstone.

Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves.

The same refinement which brings us new pleasures, exposes us to new pains.

The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge.

A cheerful mind is a vigorous mind.

We do not keep the outward form of order, where there is deep disorder in the mind.

Abundance of knowledge does not teach men to be wise.

If it were not for injustice, men would not know justice.

Never to suffer would never to have been blessed.

Learn to limit yourself, to content yourself with some definite thing, and some definite work; dare to be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not and to believe in your own individuality.

Individuals may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.

I repeat...that all power is a trust; that we are accountable for its exercise; that from the people, and for the people all springs, and all must exist.

Noise is the most impertinent of all forms of interruption. It is not only an interruption, but is also a disruption of thought.

If you consider what are called the virtues in mankind, you will find their growth is assisted by education and cultivation.

In quarrels such as these not ours to intervene.

The past is certain, the future obscure.

Now begins a torrent of words and a trickling of sense.

The populace is like the sea motionless in itself, but stirred by every wind, even the lightest breeze.

There is always more spirit in attack than in defense.

Men are slower to recognize blessings than misfortunes.

Men are only clever at shifting blame from their own shoulders to those of others.

Many difficulties which nature throws in our way, may be smoothed away by the exercise of intelligence.

In difficult and desperate cases, the boldest counsels are the safest.

I approach these questions unwillingly, as they are sore subjects, but no cure can be effected without touching upon and handling them.

Greater is our terror of the unknown.

There is no place in nature for extinction.

O human race born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou fall.

Tis hard to fight with anger, but the prudent man keeps it under control.