John Lancaster Spalding Quotes - Page 2

What we enjoy, not what we possess, is ours, and in labouring for the possession of many things, we lose the power to enjoy the best.

The common man is impelled and controlled by interests; the superior, by ideas.

Insight makes argument ridiculous.

If we are disappointed that men give little heed to what we utter is it for their sake or our own?

We are not masters of the truth which is borne in upon us: it overpowers us.

Worry, whatever its source, weakens, takes away courage, and shortens life.

A liberal education is that which aims to develop faculty without ulterior views of profession or other means of gaining a livelihood. It considers man an end in himself and not an instrument whereby something is to be wrought. Its ideal is human perfection.

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.

It is unpleasant to turn back, though it be to take the right way.

The exercise of authority is odious, and they who know how to govern, leave it in abeyance as much as possible.

The aim of education is to strengthen and multiply the powers and activities of the mind rather than to increase its possessions.

As we can not love what is hateful, let us accustom ourselves neither to think nor to speak of disagreeable things and persons.

A gentleman does not appear to know more or to be more than those with whom he is thrown into company.

There are who mistake the spirit of pugnacity for the spirit of piety, and thus harbor a devil instead of an angel.

Culture makes the whole world our dwelling place; our palace in which we take our ease and find ourselves at one with all things.

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.

Do definite good; first of all to yourself, then to definite persons.

If all were gentle and contented as sheep, all would be as feeble and helpless.

If thou wouldst be implacable, be so with thyself.

One may speak Latin and have but the mind of a peasant.

When we have attained success, we see how inferior it is to the hope, yearning and enthusiasm with which we started forth in life's morning.

States of soul rightly expressed, as the poet expresses them in moments of pure inspiration, retain forever the power of creating like states. It is this that makes genuine literature a vital force.

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.

The power of free will is developed and confirmed by increasing the number of worthy motives which influence conduct.

It is the business of the teacher ... to fortify reason and to make conscience sovereign.