Self-love is a principle of action; but among no class of human beings has nature so profusely distributed this principle of life and action as through the whole sensitive family of genius. Isaac D'Israeli More Quotes by Isaac D'Israeli More Quotes From Isaac D'Israeli One may quote till one compiles. Isaac D'Israeli quotations may Fortune has rarely condescended to be the companion of genius. Isaac D'Israeli companion genius fortune It is a wretched taste to be gratified with mediocrity when the excellent lies before us. Isaac D'Israeli mediocrity excellence lying Enthusiasm is that secret and harmonious spirit which hovers over the production of genius, throwing the reader of a book, or the spectator of a statue, into the very ideal presence whence these works have really originated. A great work always leaves us in a state of musing. Isaac D'Israeli design secret book Beware of the man of one book. Isaac D'Israeli home men book The delights of reading impart the vivacity of youth even to old age. Isaac D'Israeli library reading age All this is labour which never meets the eye.... But too open and generous a revelation of the chapter and the page of the original quoted, has often proved detrimental to the legitimate honours of the quoter. They are unfairly appropriated by the next comer; the quoter is never quoted, but the authority he has afforded is produced by his successor with the air of an original research. Isaac D'Israeli eye research air It is fortunate that Literature is in no ways injured by the follies of Collectors, since though they preserve the worthless, they necessarily defend the good. Isaac D'Israeli folly literature way The Plagiarism of orators is the art, or an ingenious and easy mode, which some adroitly employ to change, or disguise, all sorts of speeches of their own composition, or that of other authors, for their pleasure, or their utility; in such a manner that it becomes impossible even for the author himself to recognise his own work, his own genius, and his own style, so skilfully shall the whole be disguised. Isaac D'Israeli style genius art Those who do not read criticism will rarely merit to be criticised. Isaac D'Israeli merit criticism After the golden age of Latinity, we gradually slide into the silver, and at length precipitately descend into the iron. Isaac D'Israeli golden iron age There is a society in the deepest solitude. Isaac D'Israeli solitude Time the great destroyer of other men's happiness, only enlarges the patrimony of literature to its possessor. Isaac D'Israeli literature happiness men This is one of the results of that adventurous spirit which is now stalking forth and raging for its own innovations. We have not only rejected AUTHORITY, but have also cast away EXPERIENCE; and often the unburthened vessel is driving to all points of the compass, and the passengers no longer know whither they are going. The wisdom of the wise, and the experience of ages, may be preserved by QUOTATION. Isaac D'Israeli innovation age wise A nickname a man may chance to wear out; but a system of calumnity, pursued by a faction, may descend even to posterity. This principal has taken full effect on this state favorite. Isaac D'Israeli taken may men The art of meditation may be exercised at all hours, and in all places, and men of genius, in their walks, at table, and amidst assemblies, turning the eye of the the mind upwards, can form an artificial solitude; retired amidst a crowd, calm amidst distraction, and wise amidst folly. Isaac D'Israeli eye wise art Whenever we would prepare the mind by a forcible appeal, an opening quotation is a symphony preluding on the chords whose tones we are about to harmonize. Isaac D'Israeli tone symphony mind Miscellanists are the most popular writers among every people; for it is they who form a communication between the learned and the unlearned, and, as it were, throw a bridge between those two great divisions of the public. Isaac D'Israeli communication bridges two There is an art of reading, an art of thinking, and an art of writing. Isaac D'Israeli reading writing art The defects of great men are the consolation of the dunces. Isaac D'Israeli dunces consolation men
