The light of lights looks always on the motive, not the deed, the shadow of shadows on the deed alone.

Quote by William Butler Yeats

Topics: William Butler Yeats Quotes

The innocent and the beautiful have no enemy but time.

The innocent and the beautiful have no enemy but time.

How far away the stars seem, and how far is our first kiss, and ah,...

How far away the stars seem, and how far is our first kiss, and ah,...

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by...

Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by...

Hearts are not had as a gift, But hearts are earned...

Hearts are not had as a gift, But hearts are earned...

But was there ever dog that praised his fleas?

But was there ever dog that praised his fleas?

But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your...

But I, being poor, have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your...

Man can embody truth but he cannot know it.

Man can embody truth but he cannot know it.

People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best...

People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best...

Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods...

Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods...

When you are old and gray and full of sleep, and nodding by the fire,...

When you are old and gray and full of sleep, and nodding by the fire,...

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,...

Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.

Joy is of the will which labours, which overcomes obstacles, which knows triumph.

How can we know the dancer from the dance?

How can we know the dancer from the dance?

Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you...

Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you...

Out of Ireland have we come, great hatred, little room, maimed us at the start....

Out of Ireland have we come, great hatred, little room, maimed us at the start....

All empty souls tend toward extreme opinions.

All empty souls tend toward extreme opinions.

May God be praised for woman That gives up all her mind, A man may...

May God be praised for woman That gives up all her mind, A man may...

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...

Well, you know, when I talked about the $87 billion, I made a mistake in...

Well, you know, when I talked about the $87 billion, I made a mistake in...

The only tolerance in the world, the only tolerance that earns the name, is that...

The only tolerance in the world, the only tolerance that earns the name, is that...

Christians should never fail to sense the operation of an angelic glory. It forever eclipses...

Christians should never fail to sense the operation of an angelic glory. It forever eclipses...

I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have a...

I have always tried to hide my efforts and wished my works to have a...