Mr. Tennyson has said that more things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of, but he wisely refrains from saying whether they are good or bad things.

Quote by Samuel Butler

Topics: Samuel Butler Quotes

The truest characters of ignorance are vanity and pride and arrogance.

The truest characters of ignorance are vanity and pride and arrogance.

Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

Self-preservation is the first law of nature.

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all.

It is better to have loved and lost than never to have lost at all.

One should judge by appearance only: what is hidden should remain so

One should judge by appearance only: what is hidden should remain so

Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything...

Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything...

If God wants us to do a thing, he should make his wishes sufficiently clear....

If God wants us to do a thing, he should make his wishes sufficiently clear....

Happiness and misery depend not on how high up or low down you are -...

Happiness and misery depend not on how high up or low down you are -...

It has beeen said that the love of money is the root of all evil....

It has beeen said that the love of money is the root of all evil....

A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.

A man who lets himself be bored is even more contemptible than the bore.

Nobody shoots at Santa Claus.

Nobody shoots at Santa Claus.

When the water of a place is bad it is safest to drink none that...

When the water of a place is bad it is safest to drink none that...

The sinews of art and literature, like those of war, are money.

The sinews of art and literature, like those of war, are money.

I never knew a writer yet who took the smallest pains with his style and...

I never knew a writer yet who took the smallest pains with his style and...

It is a wise tune that knows its own father, and I like my music...

It is a wise tune that knows its own father, and I like my music...

The history of art is the history of revivals

The history of art is the history of revivals

Though analogy is often misleading, it is the least misleading thing we have.

Though analogy is often misleading, it is the least misleading thing we have.

There is nothing so unthinkable as thought, unless it be the entire absence of thought.

There is nothing so unthinkable as thought, unless it be the entire absence of thought.

For most men, and most circumstances, pleasure --tangible material prosperity in this world --is the...

For most men, and most circumstances, pleasure --tangible material prosperity in this world --is the...

I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where;...

I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where;...

Love creates an us without destroying a me.

Love creates an us without destroying a me.

Give me books, fruit, French wine and fine weather and a little music out of...

Give me books, fruit, French wine and fine weather and a little music out of...