The mark of a civilized man is his willingness to re-examine his most cherished beliefs. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. More Quotes by Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. More Quotes From Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Where we stand is not as important as the direction in which we are moving. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. important moving Pretty much all the honest truth-telling there is in the world is done by children. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. truth lying children Pretty much all law consists in forbidding men to do something that they want to do. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. law want men The man of action has the present, but the thinker controls the future. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. thinker action men No generalization is wholly true—not even this one. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. generalization I think it not improbable that man, like the grub that prepares a chamber for the winged thing it never has seen but is to be - that man may have cosmic destinies that he does not understand. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. destiny men thinking There was never an idea started that woke up men out of their stupid indifference but its originator was spoken of as a crank. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. stupid men ideas The world is always ready to receive talent with open arms. Very often it does not know what to do with genius. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. genius doe world Our dead brothers and sisters still live for us and bid us think of life, not death-of life to which in their youth they lent the passion and glory of Spring. As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again, and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil, our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, hope, and will. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. brother spring death There is a little plant called reverence in the corner of my soul's garden, which I love to have watered once a week. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. garden soul love The root of joy, as of duty, is to put all one's powers towards some great end. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. ends roots joy The minute a phrase, becomes current, it becomes an apology for not thinking accurately to the end of the sentence. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. apology phrases thinking If you don't know what you want, you will probably never get it. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. glowing going-with-the-flow want Reason may be the lever, but sentiment gives you the fulcrum and the place to stand on if you want to move the world. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. giving world moving Through our great good fortune, in our youth our hearts were touched with fire. It was given to us to learn at the outset that life is a profound and passionate thing. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. fire heart time While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. youth age heart The language of judicial decision is mainly the language of logic. And the logical method and form flatter that longing for certainty and for repose which is in every human mind. But certainty generally is illusion, and repose is not the destiny of man. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. destiny decision men Taxes are what we pay for civilized society Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. paying-taxes society political Liberty is often a heavy burden on a man. It involves the necessity for perpetual choice which is the kind of labor men have always dreaded. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. liberty choices men To us who remain behind is left this day of memories. Every year--in the full tide of spring, at the height of the symphony of flowers and love and life--there comes a pause, and through the silence we hear the lonely pipe of death. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. life-and-love lonely memories
