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Thomas Noon Talfourd Quotes

Fill the seats of justice with good men, not so absolute in goodness as to forget what human frailty is.

Fill the seats of justice with good men, not so absolute in goodness as to forget what human frailty is.

Thomas Noon Talfourd
Inspirational, Men, Justice
Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd (1836). “Ion: A Tragedy in 5 Acts”, p.113

Tis a little thing To give a cup of water; yet its draught of cool refreshment, drain'd by fever'd lips, May give a shock of pleasure to the frame More exquisite than when nectarean juice Renews the life of joy in happiest hours.

Thomas Noon Talfourd
Rain, Rivers, Giving
Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd (1837). “Ion: A Tragedy in Five Acts”, p.16

So his life has flowed, From its mysterious urn a sacred stream, In whose calm depth the beautiful and pure, Alone are mirrored; which, though shapes of ill, May hover round its surface, glides in light, And takes no shadow from them.

Thomas Noon Talfourd
Life, Beautiful, Light
"Ion: A Tragedy in Five Acts (Act I, Scene 1)". Book by Thomas Noon Talfourd, 1835.

The mysteries of Nature and of humanity are not lessened, but increased, by the discoveries of philosophic skill.

Thomas Noon Talfourd
Discovery, Skills, Humanity
Thomas Babington Macaulay, Thomas Noon Talfourd, James Stephen (1854). “Essays, Critical and Miscellaneous: Critical and miscellaneous writings”, p.77

In ourselvesIn our own honest hearts and chainless handsWill be our safeguard

Thomas Noon Talfourd
Heart, Honest

It is a little thing to speak a phrase of common comfort, which by daily use has almost lost its sense; yet on the ear of him who thought to die unmourned it will fall like choicest music.

Thomas Noon Talfourd
Fall, Littles, Comfort
Sir Thomas Noon Talfourd (1836). “Ion: A Tragedy in 5 Acts”, p.18

Gentleman is a term which does not apply to any station, but to the mind and the feelings in every station.

Thomas Noon Talfourd
Feelings, Gentleman, Mind

To him who has thought, or done, or suffered much, the level days of his childhood seem at an immeasureable distance, far off as the age of chivalry, or as the line of Sesostris.

Thomas Noon Talfourd
Distance, Past, Childhood
Thomas Babington Macaulay, Thomas Noon Talfourd, James Stephen (1854). “Essays, Critical and Miscellaneous: Critical and miscellaneous writings”, p.102

Sympathy is the first great lesson which man should learn. It will be ill for him if he proceeds no farther; if his emotions are but excited to roll back on his heart, and to be fostered in luxurious quiet. But unless he learns to feel for things in which he has no personal interest, he can achieve nothing generous or noble.

Thomas Noon Talfourd
Sympathy, Heart, Men
Thomas Noon Talfourd (1848). “Critical and Miscellaneous Writings”, p.5

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