Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine, chevalier de Pratz, was a French writer, poet and politician who was instrumental in the foundation of the Second Republic and the continuation of the Tricolore as the flag of France...
character greatness leader
The greatness of a popular character is less according to the ratio of his genius than the sympathy he shows with the prejudices and even the absurdities of his time. Fanatics do not select the cleverest but the most fanatical leaders as was evidenced in the choice of Robespierre by the French Jacobins, and in that of Cromwell by the English Puritans.
greatness sovereign virtue
True greatness is sovereign wisdom. We are never deceived by our virtues.
spiritual greatness men
The founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammed. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?
mean greatness men
If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad?
time men heaven
Man hath no Heaven and Time's coast is chartless. He speeds; we pass away!
dog horse elephants
I am persuaded that if the brutes even--if the dog, the horse, the ox, the elephant, the bird, could speak, they would confess, that, at the bottom of their nature, their instincts, their sensations, their obtuse intelligence, assisted by organs less perfect than ours, there is a clouded, secret sentiment of this existence of a superior and primordial Being, from whom all emanates, and to whom all returns.
night dawn
I say to this night: "Pass more slowly"; and the dawn will come to dispel the night.
hours passing enjoy
Let us love the passing hour, let us hurry up and enjoy our time.
giving chance should
Chance often gives us that which we should not have presumed to ask.
life-is-too-short passion evil
Life is too short to spare an hour of it in the indulgence of this evil passion.
beautiful one-day delight
Let us savour the swift delights of the most beautiful of our days!
art eye should-have
An artist should have more than two eyes.
martyr assassination
Assassination makes only martyrs, not converts.
civilization excess barbarism
Barbarism recommences by the excess of civilization.