Books are but waste paper unless we spend in action the wisdom we get from thought - asleep. When we are weary of the living, we may repair to the dead, who have nothing of peevishness, pride, or design in…

Quote by William Butler Yeats

Topics: Books Quotes

Accursed who brings to light of day the writings I have cast away.

Accursed who brings to light of day the writings I have cast away.

The only business of the head in the world is to bow a ceaseless obeisance...

The only business of the head in the world is to bow a ceaseless obeisance...

All empty souls tend toward extreme opinions.

All empty souls tend toward extreme opinions.

I have certainly known more men destroyed by the desire to have a wife and...

I have certainly known more men destroyed by the desire to have a wife and...

A pity beyond all telling is hid in the heart of love.

A pity beyond all telling is hid in the heart of love.

Oh, Love is the crooked thing, there is nobody wise enough to find out all...

Oh, Love is the crooked thing, there is nobody wise enough to find out all...

I think you can leave the arts, superior or inferior, to the conscience of mankind.

I think you can leave the arts, superior or inferior, to the conscience of mankind.

Nor dread nor hope attend a dying animal; a man awaits his end dreading and...

Nor dread nor hope attend a dying animal; a man awaits his end dreading and...

Cast your mind on other days that we in coming days may be still the...

Cast your mind on other days that we in coming days may be still the...

I heard the old, old, men say 'all that's beautiful drifts away, like the waters.'

I heard the old, old, men say 'all that's beautiful drifts away, like the waters.'

Irish poets, learn your trade, sing whatever is well made, scorn the sort now growing...

Irish poets, learn your trade, sing whatever is well made, scorn the sort now growing...

An intellectual hatred is the worst.

An intellectual hatred is the worst.

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

The Government does not intend these things to happen, the Commission on whose report the...

The Government does not intend these things to happen, the Commission on whose report the...

The problem with some people is that when they aren't drunk, they're sober.

The problem with some people is that when they aren't drunk, they're sober.

I balanced all, brought all to mind, the years to come seemed waste of breath,...

I balanced all, brought all to mind, the years to come seemed waste of breath,...

We make out of the quarrel with others, rhetoric, but of the quarrel with ourselves,...

We make out of the quarrel with others, rhetoric, but of the quarrel with ourselves,...

Once you attempt legislation upon religious grounds, you open the way for every kind of...

Once you attempt legislation upon religious grounds, you open the way for every kind of...

By religion I mean a set of beliefs held as dogmas, dominating the conduct of...

By religion I mean a set of beliefs held as dogmas, dominating the conduct of...

Religion points to that area of human experience where in one way or another man...

Religion points to that area of human experience where in one way or another man...