Pretension is nothing; power is everything. Edwin Percy Whipple More Quotes by Edwin Percy Whipple More Quotes From Edwin Percy Whipple Sydney Smith playfully says that common sense was invented by Socrates, that philosopher having been one of its most conspicuous exemplars in conducting the contest of practical sagacity against stupid prejudice and illusory beliefs. Edwin Percy Whipple common-sense prejudice stupid In most old communities there is a common sense even in sensuality. Vice itself gets gradually digested into a system, is amenable to certain laws of conventional propriety and honor, has for its object simply the gratification of its appetites, and frowns with quite a conservative air on all new inventions, all untried experiments in iniquity. Edwin Percy Whipple common-sense law air A composition which dazzles at first sight by gaudy epithets, or brilliant turns or expression, or glittering trains of imagery, may fade gradually from the mind, leaving no enduring impression; but words which flow fresh and warm from a full heart, and which are instinct with the life and breath of human feeling, pass into household memories, and partake of the immortality of the affections from which they spring. Edwin Percy Whipple heart spring memories Sin, every day, takes out a patent for some new invention. Edwin Percy Whipple new-inventions patents sin The great characteristic of men of active genius is a sublime self-confidence, springing not from self-conceit, but from an intense identification of the man with his object, which lifts him altogether above the fear of danger and death, which gives to his enterprise a character of insanity to the common eye, and which communicates an almost superhuman audacity to his will. Edwin Percy Whipple self-confidence eye character The very large, very respectable, and very knowing class of misanthropes who rejoice in the name of grumblers,--persons who are so sure that the world is going to ruin, that they resent every attempt to comfort them as an insult to their sagacity, and accordingly seek their chief consolation in being inconsolable, their chief pleasure in being displeased. Edwin Percy Whipple knowing names class Humor, warm and all-embracing as the sunshine, bathes its objects in a genial and abiding light. Edwin Percy Whipple sunshine humor light From Lucifer to Jerry Sneak there is not an aspect of evil, imperfection, and littleness which can elude the lights of humor or the lightning of wit. Edwin Percy Whipple imperfection light evil The greatness of action includes immoral as well as moral greatness--Cortes and Napoleon, as well as Luther and Washington. Edwin Percy Whipple moral greatness action Nothing is rarer than the use of a word in its exact meaning. Edwin Percy Whipple use The inborn geniality of some people amounts to genius. Edwin Percy Whipple cheerfulness genius people There is a natural disposition with us to judge an author's personal character by the character of his works. We find it difficult to understand the common antithesis of a good writer and a bad man. Edwin Percy Whipple judging character men The wise men of old have sent most of their morality down the stream of time in the light skiff of apothegm or epigram; and the proverbs of nations, which embody the commonsense of nations, have the brisk concussion of the most sparkling wit. Edwin Percy Whipple light wise men An epigram often flashes light into regions where reason shines but dimly. Edwin Percy Whipple shining light reason A politician weakly and amiably in the right, is no match for a politician tenaciously and pugnaciously in the wrong. Edwin Percy Whipple politician politics political Felicity, not fluency of language, is a merit. Edwin Percy Whipple fluency merit happiness Nature does not capriciously scatter her secrets as golden gifts to lazy pets and luxurious darlings, but imposes tasks when she presents opportunities, and uplifts him whom she would inform. The apple that she drops at the feet of Newton is but a coy invitation to follow her to the stars. Edwin Percy Whipple stars nature uplifting The bitterest satires and noblest eulogies on married life have come from poets. Edwin Percy Whipple eulogy married poet Some men find happiness in gluttony and in drunkenness, but no delicate viands can touch their taste with the thrill of pleasure, and what generosity there is in wine steadily refuses to impart its glow to their shriveled hearts. Edwin Percy Whipple wine heart men Tears are copiously showered over frailties the discoverer takes a malicious delight in circulating; and thus, all granite on one side of the heart, and all milk on the other, the unsexed scandal-monger hies from house to house, pouring balm from its weeping eyes on the wounds it inflicts with its stabbing tongue. Edwin Percy Whipple eye house heart
