Talents, to strike the eye of posterity, should be concentrated. Rays, powerless while they are scattered, burn in a point. Robert Aris Willmott More Quotes by Robert Aris Willmott More Quotes From Robert Aris Willmott A first book has some of the sweetness of a first love. Robert Aris Willmott first-love reading book The history of men of science has one peculiar advantage, as it shows the importance of little things in producing great results. Smeaton learned his principle of constructing a lighthouse, by noticing the trunk of a tree to be diminished from a curve to a cyclinder ... and Newton, turning an old box into a water-clock, or the yard of a house into a sundial, are examples of those habits of patient observation which scientific biography attractively recommends. Robert Aris Willmott curves men science The drama is the book of the people. Robert Aris Willmott drama book people Joy and grief are never far apart. In the same street the shutters of one house are closed, while the curtains of the next are brushed by shadow of the dance. A wedding-party returns from church, and a funeral winds to its door. The smiles and the sadness of life are the tragi-comedy of Shakespeare. Gladness and sighs brighten and dim the mirror he beholds. Robert Aris Willmott sadness party grief It is supposable that, in the eyes of angels, a struggle down a dark lane and a battle of Leipsic differ in nothing but excess of wickedness. Robert Aris Willmott angel eye struggle From numberless books the fluttering reader, idle and inconstant, bears away the bloom that only clings to the outer leaf; but genius has its nectaries, delicate glands, and secrecies of sweetness, and upon these the thoughtful mind must settle in its labor, before the choice perfume of fancy and wisdom is drawn forth. Robert Aris Willmott thoughtful reading book The amplest knowledge has the largest faith. Ignorance is always incredulous. Tell an English cottager that the belfries of Swedish churches are crimson, and his own white steeple furnishes him with a contradiction. Robert Aris Willmott church ignorance white A good reader is nearly as rare as a good writer. People bring their prejudices, whether friendly or adverse. They are lamp and spectacles, lighting and magnifying the page. Robert Aris Willmott reading friendly people A discursive student is almost certain to fall into bad company. Ten minutes with a French novel or a German rationalist have sent a reader away with a fever for life. Robert Aris Willmott fever reading fall Philosophical studies are beset by one peril, a person easily brings himself to think that he thinks; and a smattering of science encourages conceit. He is above his companions. A hieroglyphic is a spell. The gnostic dogma is cuneiform writing to the million. Moreover, the vain man is generally a doubter. It is Newton who sees himself in a child on the sea shore, and his discoveries in the colored shells. Robert Aris Willmott philosophical philosophy children Humor is the pensiveness of wit. Robert Aris Willmott wit humor Some imitation is involuntary and unconscious. Robert Aris Willmott involuntary unconscious imitation We waste the power in impatience which, if, otherwise employed, might remedy the evil. Robert Aris Willmott waste evil might The importance of the romantic element does not rest upon conjecture. Pleasing testimonies abound. Hannah More traced her earliest impressions of virtue to works of fiction; and Adam Clarke gives a list of tales that won his boyish admiration. Books of entertainment led him to believe in a spiritual world; and he felt sure of having been a coward, but for romances. He declared that he had learned more of his duty to God, his neighbor and himself from Robinson Crusoe than from all the books, except the Bible, that were known to his youth. Robert Aris Willmott spiritual believe book Occasionally a single anecdote opens a character; biography has its comparative anatomy, and a saying or a sentiment enables the skilful hand to construct the skeleton. Robert Aris Willmott skeletons character hands The fame of a battlefield grows with its years; Napoleon storming the Bridge of Lodi, and Wellington surveying the towers of Salamanca, affect us with fainter emotions than Brutus reading in his tent at Philippi, or Richard bearing down with the English chivalry upon the white armies of Saladin. Robert Aris Willmott army reading years No canvas absorbs colour like memory. Robert Aris Willmott canvas colour memories Genius is nourished from within and without. Robert Aris Willmott genius science Attention makes the genius; all learning, fancy, science and skills depend upon it. Newton traced his discoveries to it. It builds bridges, opens new worlds, heals diseases, carries on the business of the world. Without it taste is useless, and the beauties of literature unobserved. Robert Aris Willmott skills bridges science Some gifted adventurer is always sailing round the world of art and science, to bring home costly merchandise from every port. Robert Aris Willmott home science art
