Great minds have purposes, little minds have wishes. Washington Irving More Quotes by Washington Irving More Quotes From Washington Irving It is but seldom that any one overt act produces hostilities between two nations; there exists, more commonly, a previous jealousy and ill will, a predisposition to take offense. Washington Irving two-nations ill-will war Of all the old festivals, however, that of Christmas awakens the strongest and most heartfelt associations. There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with our conviviality, and lifts the sprit to a state of hallowed and elevated enjoyment. Washington Irving heartfelt christmas feelings After all, it is the divinity within that makes the divinity without. Washington Irving divinity spirituality Oh the grave!--the grave!--It buries every error--covers every defect--extinguishes every resentment! From its peaceful bosom spring none but fond regrets and tender recollections. Who can look down upon the grave even of an enemy, and not feel a compunctious throb, that he should ever have warred with the poor handful of earth that lies mouldering before him! Washington Irving regret spring death Believe me, the man who earns his bread by the sweat of his brow, eats oftener a sweeter morsel, however coarse, than he who procures it by the labor of his brains. Washington Irving sweat men believe Marriage is the torment of one, the felicity of two, the strife and enmity of three. Washington Irving marriage three two History fades into fable; fact becomes clouded with doubt and controversy; the inscription molders from the tablet: the statue falls from the pedestal. Columns, arches, pyramids, what are they but heaps of sand; and their epitaphs, but characters written in the dust? Washington Irving dust character fall For what is history, but... huge libel on human nature, to which we industriously add page after page, volume after volume, as if we were holding up a monument to the honor, rather than the infamy of our species. Washington Irving honor add history Who ever hears of fat men heading a riot, or herding together in turbulent mobs? No - no, your lean, hungry men who are continually worrying society, and setting the whole community by the ears. Washington Irving worry men funny Those men are most apt to be obsequious and conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home. Washington Irving husband home men How convenient it would be to many of our great men and great families of doubtful origin, could they have the privilege of the heroes of yore, who, whenever their origin was involved in Washington Irving privilege hero men It is not poverty so much as pretense that harasses a ruined man - the struggle between a proud mind and an empty purse - the keeping up of a hollow show that must soon come to an end. Washington Irving struggle mind men Society is like a lawn, where every roughness is smoothed, every bramble eradicated, and where the eye is delighted by the smiling verdure of a velvet surface Washington Irving velvet society eye [I]n the gloomy month of February.... The Deserts of Arabia are not more dreary and inhospitable than the streets of London at such a time. Washington Irving desert arabia london The almighty dollar, that great object of universal devotion. Washington Irving dollars money devotion Luxury spreads its ample board before their eyes; but they are excluded from the banquet. Plenty revels over the fields; but theyare starving in the midst of its abundance: the whole wilderness has blossomed into a garden; but they feel as reptiles that infest it. Washington Irving garden eye native-american The oil and wine of merry meeting. Washington Irving oil wine humor Other men are known to posterity only through the medium of history, which is continually growing faint and obscure; but the intercourse between the author and his fellow-men is ever new, Washington Irving growing fellow-man men It is the divine attribute of the imagination, that it is irrepressible, unconfinable; that when the real world is shut out, it can create a world for itself, and with a necromantic power can conjure up glorious shapes and forms, and brilliant visions to make solitude populous, and irradiate the gloom of a dungeon. Washington Irving solitude real imagination There is a remembrance of the dead to which we turn even from the charms of the living. Washington Irving remembrance pleasure song
