Quotessence
Home / Topics / Irregularity Quotes

Irregularity Quotes

Browse 38 quotes about Irregularity.

Irregularity Quotes

“General irregularities are known in time to remedy themselves. By the constitution of ancient Egypt, the priesthood was continually increasing, till at length there was no people beside themselves; the establishment was then dissolved, and the number of priests was reduced and limited. Thus among us, writers will, perhaps, be multiplied, till no readers will be found, and then the ambition of writing must necessarily cease.”

PeopleWritingFoundNumbersKnownReaderAmbitionConstitutionAncientCeasePriestsLengthEstablishmentRemedyEgyptPriesthoodAncient EgyptIrregularity
Book:The Works of Samuel Johnson, LL.: D., with an Essay on His Life and Genius
Create image

“In all things that live there are certain irregularities, and deficiencies which are not only signs of life, but sources of beauty. No human face is exactly the same in its lines on each side, no leaf perfect in its lobes, no branch in its symmetry.”

HumansFacesCertainSidesLinesPerfectBeautySourceAll ThingsBranchesLeafsDeficiencySymmetryHuman FacesIrregularitySigns Of Life
Book:On the nature of Gothic architecture: and herein of the true functions of the workman in art. Being the greater part of the 6th chapter of the 2nd vol. of 'Stones of Venice'. [48 p.].
Create image

“Conscience is a man's compass, and though the needle sometimes deviates, though one often perceives irregularities in directing one's course by it, still one must try to follow its direction.”

MenTryingStillsSometimesCoursesConsciencePerceiveCompassNeedlesDeviateIrregularity
Book:The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh to His Brother, 1872-1886: With a Memoir by His Sister-in-law, J. Van Gogh-Bonger ...
Create image

“Irregularity and want of method are only supportable in men of great learning or genius, who are often too full to be exact, and therefore they choose to throw down their pearls in heaps before the reader, rather than be at the pains of stringing them.”

MenWantPainLiteratureLearningReaderGeniusOrganizationMethodPearlsIrregularity
Book:Essays Moral and Humorous: Also Essays on Imagination and Taste
Create image

“The word itself has another color. It’s not a word with any resonance, although the e was once pronounced. There is only the bump now between b and l, the relief at the end, the whew. It hasn’t the sly turn which crimson takes halfway through, yellow’s deceptive jelly, or the rolled-down sound in brown. It hasn’t violet’s rapid sexual shudder or like a rough road the irregularity of ultramarine, the low puddle in mauve like a pancake covered in cream, the disapproving purse to pink, the assertive brevity of red, the whine of green.”

EndsTurnsSoundColorLowsRedGreenReliefBrownRoughCoveredYellowCreamVioletRapidsHalfwayPursesBumpsResonanceBrevityDeceptivePancakesJellySlyCrimsonPuddlesAssertiveIrregularityDisapproving
Author:William H. Gass
Create image

“Relate comic things in pompous fashion. Irregularity, in other words the unexpected, the surprising, the astonishing, are essential to and characteristic of beauty. Two fundamental literary qualities: supernaturalism and irony. The blend of the grotesque and the tragic are attractive to the mind, as is discord to blasé ears. Imagine a canvas for a lyrical, magical farce, for a pantomime, and translate it into a serious novel. Drown the whole thing in an abnormal, dreamy atmosphere, in the atmosphere of great days … the region of pure poetry.”

MindTwoWholeQualityNovelImagineFashionSeriousPureEssentialsEarsFundamentalsComicRelateAtmosphereIronyAttractiveCharacteristicsUnexpectedTragicRegionsSurprisingTranslateCanvasAstonishingAbnormalLyricalGrotesqueDiscordGreat DayDreamyPompousFarcePantomimeIrregularity
Author:Charles Baudelaire
Create image

“No human face is exactly the same in its lines on each side, no leaf perfect in its lobes, no branch in its symmetry. All admit irregularity as they imply change; and to banish imperfection is to destroy expression, to check exertion, to paralyze vitality. All things are literally better, lovelier, and more beloved for the imperfections which have been divinely appointed, that the law of human life may be Effort, and the law of human judgment, Mercy.”

HumansMayHas BeensHappinessFacesLawSidesLinesPerfectEffortExpressionJudgmentAll ThingsMercyChecksHuman LifeBelovedBranchesImperfectionLeafsVitalityExertionSymmetryHuman FacesIrregularity
Book:The Stones of Venice (Complete)
Create image

“One can get a proper insight into the practice of flying only by actual flying experiments. . . . The manner in which we have to meet the irregularities of the wind, when soaring in the air, can only be learnt by being in the air itself. . . . The only way which leads us to a quick development in human flight is a systematic and energetic practice in actual flying experiments.”

WayHumansPracticeAirWindDevelopmentInsightFlyingExperimentsFlightAviationSoarEnergeticSystematicIrregularity
Author:Otto Lilienthal
Create image

“Invention is an Heroic thing, and plac'd above the reach of a low, and vulgar Genius. It requires an active, a bold, a nimble, a restless mind: a thousand difficulties must be contemn'd with which a mean heart would be broken: many attempts must be made to no purpose: much Treasure must sometimes be scatter'd without any return: much violence, and vigour of thoughts must attend it: some irregularities, and excesses must be granted it, that would hardly be pardon'd by the severe Rules of Prudence.”

MindHeartMeanMadeSometimesWould BeSciencePurposeAttentionViolenceBrokenReturnGeniusThousandLowsDifficultyActiveTreasureInventionGrantedExcessHeroicHeroismSevereVulgarRestlessPrudencePardonNimbleIrregularityRestless Mind
Book:The History of the Royal Society of London: For the Improving of Natural Knowledge
Create image

“To grasp organizational life as it is, read novels (!) .... It is my fervent belief that we will never design rational processes that "overcome" such irregularities-don't bother telling that to a consultant. Hence, we should embrace the real, nonrational, nonlinear world with vigor and glee-and develop enterprise and career strategies accordingly.”

WorldShouldRealSuccessBeliefProcessCareersCreativityNovelDesignOvercomingStrategyEmbraceRationalBotherEnterpriseVigorGleeOrganizationalConsultantsFerventIrregularityNonlinear
Author:Tom Peters
Create image

“We must cultivate and defend particularity, individuality, and irregularity-life. Human beings do not have a future in the collectivism of bureaucratic states or in the mass society created by capitalism. Every system, by virtue as much of its abstract nature as of its pretension to totality, is the enemy of life. As a forgotten Spanish poet, José Moreno Villa, put it with melancholy wit: "I have discovered in symmetry the root of much iniquity."”

LifeHumansStatesHuman BeingsEnemyVirtuePoetMassCapitalismRootsForgottenIndividualityWitAbstractMelancholyTotalityCollectivismPretensionSymmetryIniquityVillaIrregularity
Book:1904-1912
Create image

“In time, Mr Hall, one gets to recognize that sneer, that hardness, for fornication extends far beyond the actual deed. Were it a deed only, I for one would not hold it anathema. But when the nations went a whoring they invariably ended by denying God, I think, and until all sexual irregularities and not some of them are penal the Church will never reconquer England.”

ThinkingNationsChurchEnglandAtheistDeedsHallsSneerHardnessAnathemaIrregularityDenying God
Author:E. M. Forster
Create image

“Every one should consider himself as intrusted not only with his own conduct, but with that of others; and as accountable, not only for the duties which he neglects, or the crimes that he commits, but for that negligence and irregularity which he may encourage or inculcate. Every man, in whatever station, has, or endeavours to have his followers, admirers, and imitators, and has therefore the influence of his example to watch with care.”

MenShouldMayCareWatchesInfluenceCrimeExampleDutyEvery ManCommitStationsNeglectFollowersEndeavourAdmirerNegligenceImitatorIrregularity
Book:Selected essays
Create image