There is no doubt such a thing as chance, but I see no reason why Providence should not make use of it. William Gilmore Simms More Quotes by William Gilmore Simms More Quotes From William Gilmore Simms The only true source of politeness is consideration. William Gilmore Simms politenessconsiderationsource The dread of criticism is the death of genius. William Gilmore Simms criticismfearweight-loss No errors of opinion can possibly be dangerous in a country where opinion is left free to grapple with them. William Gilmore Simms errorsopinioncountry The only rational liberty is that which is born of subjection, reared in the fear of God and the love of man. William Gilmore Simms godlovemen Better that we should err in action than wholly refuse to perform. The storm is so much better than the calm, as it declares the presence of a living principle. Stagnation is something worse than death. It is corruption also. William Gilmore Simms stormprinciplesaction The only true source of politeness is consideration,--that vigilant moral sense which never loses sight of the rights, the claims, and the sensibilities of others. This is the one quality, over all others, necessary to make a gentleman. William Gilmore Simms gentlemanrightssight I listen to them freely and with all the respect merited by their intelligence, their character, their knowledge, reserving always my incontestable right of criticism and censure. William Gilmore Simms respect-mecriticismcharacter The effect of character is always to command consideration. We sport and toy and laugh with men or women who have none, but we never confide in them. William Gilmore Simms sportscharactermen Tears are the natural penalties of pleasure. It is a law that we should pay for all that we enjoy. William Gilmore Simms tearslawpay The proverb answers where the sermon fails. William Gilmore Simms gunpowderanswersinspirational Our true acquisitions lie only in our charities - we gain only as we give. William Gilmore Simms generositygivinglying But for that blindness which is inseparable from malice, what terrible powers of evil would it possess! Fortunately for the world, its venom, like that of the rattlesnake, when most poisonous, clouds the eye of the reptile, and defeats its aim. William Gilmore Simms eyeevilclouds The fool is willing to pay for anything but wisdom. No man buys that of which he supposes himself to have an abundance already. William Gilmore Simms wisdompaymen He who would acquire fame must not show himself afraid of censure. The dread of censure is the death of genius. William Gilmore Simms geniuscriticismfear Solitude bears the same relation to the mind that sleep does to the body. It affords it the necessary opportunities for repose and recovery. William Gilmore Simms recoverysleepopportunity Distinction is an eminence that is attained but too frequently at the expense of a fireside. William Gilmore Simms expensesdistinctiongreatness Our cares are the mothers, not only of our charities And virtues, but of our best joys and most cheering and enduring pleasures. William Gilmore Simms cheermotherworry The wonder is not that the world is so easily governed, but that so small a number of persons will suffice for the purpose. There are dead weights in political and legislative bodies as in clocks, and hundreds answer as pulleys who would never do for politicians. William Gilmore Simms politicalgovernmentnumbers The birth of a child is the imprisonment of a soul. The soul must work its way out of prison, and, in doing so, provide itself with wings for a future journey. It is for each of us to determine whether our wings shall be those of an angel or a grub! William Gilmore Simms angeljourneychildren Our possessions are wholly in our performances. He owns nothing to whom the world owes nothing. William Gilmore Simms charitypossessionworld
