O be very sure That no man will learn anything at all, Unless he first will learn humility. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton More Quotes by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton More Quotes From Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton Money never can be well managed if sought solely through the greed of money for its own sake. In all meanness there is a defect of intellect as well as of heart. And even the cleverness of avarice is but the cunning of imbecility. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton greedmoneyheart When the soul communes with itself the lip is silent. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton lipssilentsoul Business first, then pleasure. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton business-firstpleasurefirsts Invention is nothing more than a fine deviation from, or enlargement on a fine model . . . Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton deviationenlargementinvention Self-confidence is not hope; it is the self-judgment of your own internal forces in their relation to the world without, which results from the failure of many hopes and the non-realization of many fears. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton confidencerealizationself If you are in doubt whether to write a letter or not, don't. And the advice applies to many doubts in life besides that of letter writing. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton doubtwritingadvice Art does not imitate nature, but founds itself on the study of nature, takes from nature the selections which best accord with its own intention, and then bestows on them that which nature does not possess, viz: The mind and soul of man. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton soulmenart Genius in the poet, like the nomad of Arabia, ever a wanderer, still ever makes a home where the well or the palm-tree invites it to pitch the tent. Perpetually passing out of himself and his own positive circumstantial condition of being into other hearts and into other conditions, the poet obtains his knowledge of human life by transporting his own life into the lives of others. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton homehearttree But never yet the dog our country fed, Betrayed the kindness or forgot the bread. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton dogkindnesscountry What men want is not talent, it is purpose; in other words, not the power to achieve, but the will to labor. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton purposewantmen Jewelry and profuse ornaments are unmistakable evidences of vulgarity. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton evidencejewelryornaments Oratory, like the drama, abhors lengthiness; like the drama, it must keep doing. It avoids, as frigid, prolonged metaphysical soliloquy. Beauties themselves, if they delay or distract the effect which should be produced on the audience, become blemishes. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton oratorydelaydrama A fiction which is designed to inculcate an object wholly alien to the imagination sins against the first law of art; and if a writer of fiction narrow his scope to particulars so positive as polemical controversy in matters ecclesiastical, political or moral, his work may or may not be an able treatise, but it must be a very poor novel. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton imaginationlawart Wrap thyself in the decent veil that the arts or the graces weave for thee, O human nature! It is only the statue of marble whose nakedness the eye can behold without shame and offence! Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton eyegraceart Woman makes half the sorrows which she boasts the privilege to sooth. Woman consoles us, it is true, while we are young and handsome; when we are old and ugly, woman snubs and scolds us. On the whole, then, woman in this scale, the weed in that. Jupiter! Hang out thy balance, and weigh them both; and if thou give the preference to woman, all I can say is, the next time Juno ruffles thee, O Jupiter, try the weed. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton weedsmokinggiving The great secrets of being courted are, to shun others, and seem delighted with yourself. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton popularitysecretseems Poverty is relative, and, therefor not ignoble. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton ignoblerelativepoverty It is destiny phrase of the weak human heart! 'It is destiny' dark apology for every error! The strong and virtuous admit no destiny Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton apologystrongheart It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents - except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton darkrainlying No reproach is like that we clothe in a smile, and present with a bow. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton reproachbows
