We may live without poetry, music and art; We may live without conscience, and live without heart; We may live without friends; we may live without books; But civilized man cannot live without cooks. . . . He may live without books,-what is knowledge but grieving? He may live without hope,-what is hope but deceiving? He may live without love,-what is passion but pining? But where is the man that can live without dining?

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

Categorized in : Art Book Passion

We are our own fates.- Our deeds are our own doomsmen.- Man's life was made not for creeds but actions.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

fate men life

Be it jewel or toy, not the prize gives the joy, but the striving... by Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl...

Be it jewel or toy, not the prize gives the joy, but the striving to win the prize.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

jewels winning happiness

That man is great, and he alone, Who serves a greatness not his own, For neither praise nor self: Content to know and be unknown: Whole in himself.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

greatness self men

The world is filled with folly and sin, And Love must cling, where it can, I say: For Beauty is easy enough to win; But one isn't loved every day.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

and-love winning birthday

Since we parted yester eve, I do love thee, love, believe, Twelve times dearer, twelve hours longer,- One dream deeper, one night stronger, One sun surer,-thus much more Than I loved thee, love, before.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

dream night believe

Truth makes on the ocean of nature no one track of light; every e... by Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl...

Truth makes on the ocean of nature no one track of light; every eye, looking on, finds its own.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

ocean truth lying

No star ever rose or set without influence somewhere.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

influence stars rose

We are but as the instrument of Heaven.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

instruments destiny heaven

The world is a nettle; disturb it, it stings. Grasp it firmly, it... by Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl...

The world is a nettle; disturb it, it stings. Grasp it firmly, it stings not.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

nettles world

Thought alone is eternal.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

eternal

It is, however, not to the museum, or the lecture-room, or the drawing- school, but to the library, that we must go for the completion of our humanity. It is books that bear from age to age the intellectual wealth of the world.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

museums book school

When time is flown, how it fled

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

asks moments time

There is nothing certain in a man's life but that he must lose it.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

men life death

Whenever I hear French spoken as I approve, I find myself quietly... by Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl...

Whenever I hear French spoken as I approve, I find myself quietly falling in love.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

falling-in-love love fall

We gain justice, judgment, with years, or else years are in vain.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

experience justice years

However we pass Time, he passes still,

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

time giving past

Only by knowledge of that which is not thyself, shall thyself be... by Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl...

Only by knowledge of that which is not thyself, shall thyself be learned.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

thyself knowledge

No life can be pure in its purpose, and strong in its strife, and all life not be purer and stronger thereby.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

strong purpose life

We may live without friends; we may live without books

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

food men book

Good -humor is goodness and wisdom combined.

Robert Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Earl of Lytton

good-humor goodness humor