Edward Bulwer-Lytton

The most useless creature that ever yawned at a club, or counted the vermin on his rags under the suns of Calabria, has no excuse for want of intellect. What men want is not talent, it is purpose,—in other words, not the power to achieve, …

Light literature,—that grace and flower of human culture, that best philosophy of all, humanizing us with gentle art, making us wise through the humours, elevated through the passions, tender in the affections of our kind.

"It is destiny!"—phrase of the weak human heart! "It is destiny!"—dark apology for every error! The strong and virtuous admit no destiny! On earth, guides Conscience—in heaven, watches God. And destiny is but the phantom we invoke to …

Night, to the earnest soul, opens the Bible of the Universe, and on the leaves of Heaven is written,—"God is everywhere!"

Though Hope be a small child, she can carry a great anchor!

Happy the man who hath never known what it is to taste of fame—to have it is a purgatory, to want it is a hell!

Remorse is the echo of a lost virtue.

We commenced research where modern conjecture closes its faithless wings. And with us, those were the common elements of science which the sages of to-day disdain as wild chimeras, or despair of as unfathomable mysteries.

Man is arrogant in proportion to his ignorance.

To the man who aspires to know, no man who has been the meanest student of knowledge should be unknown.

Real philosophy seeks rather to solve than to deny.

Little minds give importance to the man who gives importance to nothing.

The man who smokes, thinks like a sage and acts like a Samaritan.

When a person's down in the world, I think an ounce of help is better than a pound of preaching.

Our glories float between the earth and heaven Like clouds which seem pavilions of the sun, And are the playthings of the casual wind.

In the lexicon of youth, which fate reserves For a bright manhood, there is no such word As "fail".

Ambition has no risk.

Take away the sword— States can be saved without it!

Beneath the rule of men entirely great, The pen is mightier than the sword.

Love hath no need of words.

You speak As one who fed on poetry.

Curse away! And let me tell thee, Beauseant, a wise proverb The Arabs have,—"Curses are like young chickens, And still come home to roost!"

Rank is a great beautifier.

Castles in the air cost a vast deal to keep up.