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George Henry Lewes Quotes

Philosopher

George Henry Lewes was a British philosopher, literary critic, and writer. Born on April 18, 1817, and died on November 28, 1878, Lewes is known for his contributions to moral philosophy, aesthetics, and literary criticism.

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Famous George Henry Lewes Quotes

“It will often be a question when a man is or is not wise in advancing unpalatable opinions, or in preaching heresies; but it can never be a question that a man should be silent if unprepared to speak the truth as he conceives it.”

Ifs Men Should Speak Opinion Wise Silent Preaching Heresy Speak The Truth Advancing Often Is Unprepared

Author:George Henry Lewes

“Our native susceptibilities and acquired tastes determine which of the many qualities in an object shall most impress us, and be most clearly recalled. One man remembers the combustible properties of a substance, which to another is memorable for its polarising property; to one man a stream is so much water-power, to another a rendezvous for lovers.”

Men Remember Water Quality Objects He Man Lovers Taste Property Determine Substance Memorable Streams Native One Man Impress Susceptibility Rendezvous Acquired Taste Water Power

Author:George Henry Lewes

Men Enjoy Command Suspects Popularity Suspicious Attainment Validity

Book:The Spanish Drama. Lope de Vega and Calderon

Source: The Spanish Drama. Lope de Vega and Calderon

“The moral nature of man is more sacred in my eyes than his intellectual nature. I know they cannot be divorced - that without intelligence we should be brutes - but it is the tendency of our gaping, wondering dispositions to give pre-eminence to those faculties which most astonish us. Strength of character seldom, if ever, astonishes; goodness, lovingness, and quiet self-sacrifice, are worth all the talents in the world.”

“A man must be himself convinced if he is to convince others. The prophet must be his own disciple, or he will make none. Enthusiasm is contagious: belief creates belief.”

Ifs Men Belief Convinced Enthusiasm Prophet Convince Disciple Contagious

Author:George Henry Lewes

“Character is built out of circumstances. From exactly the same materials, one man builds palaces, while another builds hovels.”

Men Character Materials Circumstances Built One Man Palaces

Author:George Henry Lewes

“It is not true that a man can believe or disbelieve what he will. But it is certain that an active desire to find any proposition true will unconsciously tend to that result by dismissing importunate suggestions which run counter to the belief, and welcoming those which favor it. The psychological law, that we only see what interests us, and only assimilate what is adapted to our condition, causes the mind to select its evidence.”

Source: Problems of Life and Mind

“A man may be buoyed up by the efflation of his wild desires to brave any imaginable peril; but he cannot calmly see one he loves braving the same peril; simply because he cannot feel within turn that which prompts another. He sees the danger, and feels not the power that is to overcome it.”

Men Feels May Desire Turns Danger Overcoming Brave Sympathy Peril Prompts

Author:George Henry Lewes

“To one man a stream is so much water-power, to another a rendezvous for lovers.”

Men Water Lovers Streams One Man Rendezvous Acquired Taste Water Power

Book:The Principles of Success in Literature

Source: The Principles of Success in Literature

“It is not enough that a man has clearness of vision, and reliance on sincerity, he must also have the art of expression, or he will remain obscure.”

Men Art Enough Vision Expression Sincerity Obscure Reliance Clearness

Book:The Principles of Success in Literature

Source: The Principles of Success in Literature

“When a man fails to see the truth of certain generally accepted views, there is no law compelling him to provoke animosity by announcing his dissent.”

Men Law Certain Views Failing Accepted Compelling Provoking Dissent Animosity Announcing

Book:The Principles of Success in Literature

Source: The Principles of Success in Literature

“Imagination is not the exclusive appanage of artists, but belongs in varying degrees to all men.”

Men Artist Imagination Degrees Exclusive

Book:The Principles of Success in Literature

Source: The Principles of Success in Literature

“No man ever made a great discovery without the exercise of the imagination.”

Men Made Imagination Exercise Smart Discovery

Author:George Henry Lewes

“A man may be variously accomplished, and yet be a feeble poet.”

Men May Poet Accomplished

Book:The Principles of Success in Literature

Source: The Principles of Success in Literature

“No man was ever eloquent by trying to be eloquent, but only by being so.”

Men Trying Eloquent

Book:The Principles of Success in Literature

Source: The Principles of Success in Literature