Quotes from Augustus William Hare

Every wise man lives in an observatory.

When a man says he sees nothing in a book, he very often means that he does not see himself in it: which, if it is not a comedy or a satire, is likely enough.

Many a man's vices have at first been nothing worse than good qualities run wild.

Many men spend their lives in gazing at their own shadows, and so dwindle away into shadows thereof.

Few are aware that they want any thing, except pounds schillings and pence.

How often one sees people looking far and wide for what they are holding in their hands? Why! I am doing it myself at this very moment.

To know the hight [sic] of a mountain, one must climb it.

Poetry is to philosophy what the Sabbath is to the rest of the week.

Philosophy cannot raise the commonalty up to her level: so, if she is to become popular, she must sink to theirs.

How idle it is to call certain things God-sends! as if there was anything else in the world.

There is as much difference between good poetry and fine verses, as between the smell of a flower-garden and of a perfumer's shop.

Curiosity is little more than another name for Hope.

In a mist the heights can for the most part see each other; but the valleys cannot.

How deeply rooted must unbelief be in our hearts when we are surprised to find our prayers answered.

They who boast of their tolerance merely give others leave to be as careless about religion as they are themselves. A walrus might as well pride itself on its endurance of cold.

If you wish a general to be beaten, send him a ream full of instructions; if you wish him to succeed, give him a destination, and bid him conquer.

Is bread the better for kneading? so is the heart. Knead it then by spiritual exercises; or God must knead it by afflictions.

In the moment of our creation we receive the stamp of our individuality; and much of life is spent in rubbing off or defacing the impression.

There is a glare about worldly success which is very apt to dazzle men's eyes.

Life may be defined to be the power of self-augmentation or assimilation, not of self-nurture; for then a steam-engine over a coal-pit might be made to live.

Why do critics make such an outcry against tragicomedies? is not life one?

A youth's love is the more passionate; virgin love is the more idolatrous.

Friendship is Love with jewels on, but without either flowers or veil.