We are not masters of the truth which is borne in upon us: it overpowers us. John Lancaster Spalding More Quotes by John Lancaster Spalding More Quotes From John Lancaster Spalding If we learn from those only, of whose lives and opinions we altogether approve, we shall have to turn from many of the highest and profoundest minds. John Lancaster Spalding turnsopinionmind If ancient descent could confer nobility, the lower forms of life would possess it in a greater degree than man. John Lancaster Spalding ancientdegreesmen Base thy life on principle, not on rules. John Lancaster Spalding principles Reform the world within thyself, which is thy proper world. John Lancaster Spalding thyselfreformworld The lover of education labors first of all to educate himself. John Lancaster Spalding loverslaborfirsts There are who mistake the spirit of pugnacity for the spirit of piety, and thus harbor a devil instead of an angel. John Lancaster Spalding devilangelmistake The zest of life lies in right doing, not in the garnered harvest. John Lancaster Spalding harvestzestlying What is greatly desired, but long deferred, gives little pleasure, when at length it is ours, for we have lived with it in imagination until we have grown weary of it, having ourselves, in the meanwhile, become other. John Lancaster Spalding imaginationgivinglong To cultivate the memory we should confide to it only what we understand and love: the rest is a useless burden; for simply to know by rote is not to know at all. John Lancaster Spalding uselessand-lovememories The exercise of authority is odious, and they who know how to govern, leave it in abeyance as much as possible. John Lancaster Spalding know-howauthorityexercise The aim of education is to strengthen and multiply the powers and activities of the mind rather than to increase its possessions. John Lancaster Spalding aim-of-educationincreasemind To think of education as a means of preserving institutions however excellent, is to have a superficial notion of its end and purpose, which is to mould and fashion men who are more than institutions, who create, outgrow, and re-create them. John Lancaster Spalding fashionmenmean Culture makes the whole world our dwelling place; our palace in which we take our ease and find ourselves at one with all things. John Lancaster Spalding dwelling-placeeaseculture A gentleman does not appear to know more or to be more than those with whom he is thrown into company. John Lancaster Spalding companygentlemandoe As we can not love what is hateful, let us accustom ourselves neither to think nor to speak of disagreeable things and persons. John Lancaster Spalding hatefulspeakthinking If thy friends tire of thee, remember that it is human to tire of everything. John Lancaster Spalding tiretheeremember If thou wouldst be implacable, be so with thyself. John Lancaster Spalding thyselfifs Inferior thinking and writing will make a name for a man among inferior people, who in all ages and countries, are the majority. John Lancaster Spalding writingmencountry One may speak Latin and have but the mind of a peasant. John Lancaster Spalding mindlatinmay The study of science, dissociated from that of philosophy and literature, narrows the mind and weakens the power to love and follow the noblest ideals: for the truths which science ignores and must ignore are precisely those which have the deepest bearing on life and conduct. John Lancaster Spalding literaturemindphilosophy
