Quotes from George Henry Lewes

Sincerity is not only effective and honourable, it is also much less difficult than is commonly supposed.

It is not enough that a man has clearness of vision, and reliance on sincerity, he must also have the art of expression, or he will remain obscure.

A man must be himself convinced if he is to convince others. The prophet must be his own disciple, or he will make none. Enthusiasm is contagious: belief creates belief.

In the air we breathe, in the water we drink, in the earth we tread on, Life is every where. Nature lives: every pore is bursting with Life ; every death is only a new birth, every grave a cradle.

The true function of philosophy is to educate us in the principles of reasoning and not to put an end to further reasoning by the introduction of fixed conclusions.

Philosophy and Art both render the invisible visible by imagination.

Among the many strange servilities mistaken for pieties, one of the least lovely is that which hopes to flatter God by despising the world, and vilifying human nature.

Good writers are of necessity rare.

All good Literature rests primarily on insight.

In its happiest efforts, translation is but approximation, and its efforts are not often happy. A translation may be good as translation, but it cannot be an adequate reproduction of the original.

All great authors are seers.

In all sincere speech there is power, not necessarily great power, but as much as the speaker is capable of.

Originality is independence, not rebellion; it is sincerity, not antagonism.

The intensity of vision in the artist and of vividness in his creations are the sole tests of his imaginative power.

To one man a stream is so much water-power, to another a rendezvous for lovers.

Murder, like talent, seems occasionally to run in families.

The great desire of this age is for a doctrine which may serve to condense our knowledge, guide our researches, and shape our lives, so that conduct may really be the consequence of belief

A cell is regarded as the true biological atom.

In Science the paramount appeal is to the Intellect-its purpose being instruction; in Art, the paramount appeal is to the Emotions-its purpose being pleasure.

Science is not addressed to poets.

Mathematicians do not write for the circulating library.

Insincerity is always weakness; sincerity even in error is strength.

The delusions of self-love cannot be prevented, but intellectual misconceptions as to the means of achieving success may be corrected.

The air is crowded with birds -- beautiful, tender, intelligent birds -- to whom life is a song.