Quotes from George Henry Lewes

To his [ Plato's ] great disappointment, he found Anaxagoras adducing simple physical reasons, instead of the teleological reasons, which he had expected. Such a teacher could no longer allure him.

Literature delivers tidings of the world within and the world without.

Genius is rarely able to give any account of its own processes.

Ordinary men live among marvels and feel no wonder, grow familiar with objects and learn nothing new about them.

The superiority of one mind over another depends on the rapidity with which experiences are thus organised.

Shakespeare is a good raft whereon to float securely down the stream of time; fasten yourself to that and your immortality is safe.

Books minister to our knowledge, to our guidance, and to our delight, by their truth, their uprightness, and their art.

Love is blind; couch not his eyes.

Insight is the first condition of Art.

All bad Literature rests upon imperfect insight, or upon imitation, which may be defined as seeing at second-hand.

Books have become our dearest companions, yielding exquisite delights and inspiring lofty aims.

In complex trains of thought signs are indispensable.

I am suspicious without a motive, and jealous without love; although I feel I ought to love since I desire to be loved.

Sincerity is moral truth.

Literature is at once the cause and the effect of social progress.

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

Insincerity is always weakness sincerity even in error is strength.

Philosophy and Art both render the invisible visible by imagination.

Imagination is not the exclusive appanage of artists, but belongs in varying degrees to all men.

Science is not addressed to poets.

Books minister to our knowledge, to our guidance, and to our delight, by their truth, their uprightness, and their art.

Endeavour to be faithful, and if there is any beauty in your thought, your style will be beautiful if there is any real emotion to express, the expression will be moving.

We must never assume that which is incapable of proof.

Many a genius has been slow of growth. Oaks that flourish for a thousand years do not spring up into beauty like a reed.