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

Come away, O human child: To the waters and the wild with a fairy, hand...

Come away, O human child: To the waters and the wild with a fairy, hand...

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

How can we know the dancer from the dance?

How can we know the dancer from the dance?

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...

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,...

Think where man's glory most begins and ends, And say my glory was I had...

Think where man's glory most begins and ends, And say my glory was I had...

Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That's all...

Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That's all...

You that would judge me, do not judge alone this book or that, come to...

You that would judge me, do not judge alone this book or that, come to...

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

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

The land of fairy, where nobody gets old and godly and grave, where nobody gets...

The land of fairy, where nobody gets old and godly and grave, where nobody gets...

The years like great black oxen tread the world, and God, the herdsman goads them...

The years like great black oxen tread the world, and God, the herdsman goads them...

We . . . are no petty people. We are of the great stocks of...

We . . . are no petty people. We are of the great stocks of...

All empty souls tend toward extreme opinions.

All empty souls tend toward extreme opinions.

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,...

Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart. O when may it...

Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart. O when may it...

Never to have lived is best, ancient writers say;Never to have drawn the breath of...

Never to have lived is best, ancient writers say;Never to have drawn the breath of...

I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so...

I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so...

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.

Every conquering temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered...

Every conquering temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered...

I have believed the best of every man. And find that to believe is enough...

I have believed the best of every man. And find that to believe is enough...