Most of the things we do, we do for no better reason than that our fathers have done them or our neighbors do them, and the same is true of a larger part than what we suspect of what we…

Quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr

Topics: Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr Quotes

The great act of faith is when a man decides he is not God.

The great act of faith is when a man decides he is not God.

A new and valid idea is worth more than a regiment and fewer men can...

A new and valid idea is worth more than a regiment and fewer men can...

Carve every word before you let it fall.

Carve every word before you let it fall.

Nothing is so commonplace has the wish to be remarkable.

Nothing is so commonplace has the wish to be remarkable.

Any two philosophers can tell each other all they know in two hours.

Any two philosophers can tell each other all they know in two hours.

This is a court of law, young man, not a court of justice.

This is a court of law, young man, not a court of justice.

Beware how you take away hope from any human being.

Beware how you take away hope from any human being.

Don't be 'consistent,' but be simply true.

Don't be 'consistent,' but be simply true.

A man is usually more careful of his money than of his principles.

A man is usually more careful of his money than of his principles.

I despise making the most of one's time. Half of the pleasures of life consist...

I despise making the most of one's time. Half of the pleasures of life consist...

I have no respect for the passion of equality, which seems to me merely idealizing...

I have no respect for the passion of equality, which seems to me merely idealizing...

We should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we...

We should be eternally vigilant against attempts to check the expression of opinions that we...

A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged; it is the skin of a...

A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged; it is the skin of a...

You commit a sin of omission if you do not utilize all the power that...

You commit a sin of omission if you do not utilize all the power that...

There is no friend like an old friend who has shared our morning days, no...

There is no friend like an old friend who has shared our morning days, no...

This is a court of law, young man, not a court of justice.

This is a court of law, young man, not a court of justice.

The rule of joy and the law of duty seem to me all one.

The rule of joy and the law of duty seem to me all one.

You make me chuckle when you say that you are no longer young, that you...

You make me chuckle when you say that you are no longer young, that you...

The only prize much cared for by the powerful is power.

The only prize much cared for by the powerful is power.

The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in...

The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in...