Martin Farquhar Tupper Quotes - Page 3

A spark is a molecule of matter, yet may it kindle the world; vast is the mighty ocean, but drops have made it vast. Despise not thou small things, either for evil or for good; for a look may work thy ruin, or a word create thy wealth.

For life, good youth, hath never an illWhich hope cannot scatter, and faith cannot kill;And stubborn realities never shall bindThe free-spreading wings of a cheerful mind.

If the mind is wearied by study, or the body worn with sickness, It is well to lie fallow for a while, in the vacancy of sheer amusement; But when thou prosprest in health, and thine intellect can soar untired, To seek uninstructive pleasure is to slumber on the couch of indolence.

Faith may rise into miracles of might, as some few wise men have shown; faith may sink into credulities of weakness, as the mass of fools have witnessed.

A man looketh on his little one as a being of better hope; in himself ambition is dead, but it bath a resurrection in his son.

I have sped by land and sea, and mingled with much people, but never yet could find a spot unsunned by human kindness.

As thou directest the power, harm or advantage will follow, and the torrent that swept the valley may be led to turn a mill.

An artful or false woman shall set thy pillow with thorns.

It is well to lie fallow for a while.

The sun of the mind, and the life of the heart is Wisdom. She is pure and full of light, crowning grey hairs with lustre, And kindling the eye of youth with a fire not its own.

A wise man heedeth all things, and in his own eyes is a fool.

Spurn not a seeming error, but dig below its surface for the truth.

Solitude delighteth well to feed on many thoughts; There as thou sittest peaceful, communing with fancy, The precious poetry of life shall gild its leaden cares; There, as thou walkest by the sea beneath the gentle stars, Many kindling seeds of good will sprout within thy soul; Thou shalt weep in Solitude,--thou shalt pray in Solitude. Thou shalt sing for joy of heart, and praise the grace of Solitude.

A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever.

When thou choosest a wife, think not only of thyself, but of those God may give thee of her, that they reproach thee not for their being.

Not few nor light are the burdens of life; then load it not with heaviness of spirit.

Trifles lighter than straws are levers in the building up of character.

A letter, timely writ, is a rivet to the chain of affection; And a letter, untimely delayed, is as rust to the solder.

Memory is not wisdom; idiots can by rote repeat volumes. Yet what is wisdom without memory?

Law hath dominion over all things, over universal mind and matter; For there are reciprocities of rights, which no creature can gainsay.

The most wretched have yet hope.

Who can wrestle against Sleep? - Yet is that giant very gentleness.

A spark is a little thing, yet it may kindle the world.

Few and precious are the words which the lips of Wisdom utter: To what shall their rarity be likened? What prices shall count their worth? Perfect, and much to be desired, and giving joy with riches, No lovely thing on earth can picture their fair beauty. They be chance pearls, flung among the rocks by the sullen waters of Oblivion.

Praise a fool, and slay him; for the canvas of his vanity is spread; His bark is shallow in the water, and a sudden gust shall sink it: Praise a wise man, and speed him on his way; for he carrieth the ballast of humility, And is glad when his course is cheered by the sympathy of brethren ashore.