True wit, to every man, is that which falls on another. Walter Savage Landor More Quotes by Walter Savage Landor More Quotes From Walter Savage Landor He who brings ridicule to bear against truth finds in his hand a blade without a hilt. The most sparkling and pointed flame of wit flickers and expires against the incombustible walls of her sanctuary. Walter Savage Landor wallflameshands I see the rainbow in the sky, the dew upon the grass; I see them, and I ask not why they glimmer or they pass. With folded arms I linger not to call them back; 'twere vain: In this, or in some other spot, I know they'll shine again. Walter Savage Landor rainbowshiningsky The happiest of pillows is not that which love first presses! it is that which death has frowned on and passed over. Walter Savage Landor pillowdeathfirsts As there are some flowers which you should smell but slightly to extract all that is pleasant in them ... so there are some men with whom a slight acquaintance is quite sufficient to draw out all that is agreeable; a more intimate one would be unsafe and unsatisfactory. Walter Savage Landor smellflowermen States, like men, have their growth, their manhood, their decrepitude, their decay. Walter Savage Landor decaygrowthmen No good writer was ever long neglected; no great man overlooked by men equally great. Impatience is a proof of inferior strength, and a destroyer of what little there may be. Walter Savage Landor appreciationmenlong Absurdities are great or small in proportion to custom or insuetude. Walter Savage Landor absurditycustomsproportion I never did a single wise thing in the whole course of my existence, although I have written many which have been thought so. Walter Savage Landor existencecourseswise We care not how many see us in choler, when we rave and bluster, and make as much noise and bustle as we can; but if the kindest and most generous affection comes across us, we suppress every sign of it, and hide ourselves in nooks and covert. Walter Savage Landor affectioncarenoise Teach him to live unto God and unto thee; and he will discover that women, like the plants in woods, derive their softness and tenderness from the shade. Walter Savage Landor woodswomenshade And Modesty, who, when she goes, Walter Savage Landor modestygone Whatever is worthy to be loved for anything is worthy of preservation. A wise and dispassionate legislator, if any such should ever arise among men, will not condemn to death him who has done or is likely to do more service than injury to society. Blocks and gibbets are the nearest objects with legislators, and their business is never with hopes or with virtues. Walter Savage Landor blockwisemen A wise man will always be a Christian, because the perfection of wisdom is to know where lies tranquillity of mind and how to attain it, which Christianity teaches. Walter Savage Landor wisdomchristianwise Where power is absent we may find the robe of genius, but we miss the throne. Walter Savage Landor thronespowermissing Political men, like goats, usually thrive best among inequalities. Walter Savage Landor goatspoliticalmen The foundation of domestic happiness is faith in the virtue of woman. Walter Savage Landor foundationwomenvirtue Vast objects of remote altitude must be looked at a long while before they are ascertained. Ages are the telescope tubes that must be lengthened out for Shakespeare; and generations of men serve but a single witness to his claims. Walter Savage Landor agemenlong A smile is ever the most bright and beautiful with a tear upon it. What is the dawn without the dew? The tear is rendered by the smile precious above the smile itself. Walter Savage Landor tearsdawnbeautiful We are poor, indeed, when we have no half-wishes left us. The heart and the imagination close the shutters the instant they are gone. Walter Savage Landor imaginationwishheart Kings play at war unfairly with republics; they can only lose some earth, and some creatures they value as little, while republics lose in every soldier a part of themselves. Walter Savage Landor kingsplaywar
