George Henry Lewes
George Henry Lewes
George Henry Leweswas an English philosopher and critic of literature and theatre. He became part of the mid-Victorian ferment of ideas which encouraged discussion of Darwinism, positivism, and religious skepticism. However, he is perhaps best known today for having openly lived with Mary Ann Evans, who wrote under the pen-name George Eliot, as soulmates whose life and writings were enriched by their relationship, despite never marrying...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth18 April 1817
lying book mind
The prosperity of a book lies in the minds of readers. Public knowledge and public taste fluctuate; and there come times when works which were once capable of instructing and delighting thousands lose their power, and works, before neglected, emerge into renown.
beautiful song intelligent
The air is crowded with birds -- beautiful, tender, intelligent birds -- to whom life is a song.
men popularity enjoy
To some men popularity is always suspicious. Enjoying none themselves, they are prone to suspect the validity of those attainments which command it.
race style gains
Except in the rare cases of great dynamic thinkers whose thoughts are as turning-points in the history of our race, it is by Style that writers gain distinction, by Style they secure their immortality.
real literature bases
Personal experience is the basis of all real literature.
writing desire done
To write much, and to write rapidly, are empty boasts. The world desires to know what you have done, and not how you did it.
height speak argument
If you feel yourself to be above the mass, speak so as to raise the mass to the height of your argument.
amplification wealth rhetorical
There are occasions when the simplest and fewest words surpass in effect all the wealth of rhetorical amplification.
regret inquiry veils
Over the meeting of the lovers I draw a veil. The burst of rapture with which they clasped each other in a wild embrace -- the many inquiries -- the fond regrets and thrilling hopes -- it is out of my power to convey. Let me, therefore, leave them to their happiness.
art expression done
It is always understood as an expression of condemnation when anything in Literature or Art is said to be done for effect; and yet to produce an effect is the aim and end of both.
race individual
The history of the race is but that of the individual "writ large".
lying class voice
If the members of a class do not understand -- if those directly addressed fail to listen, or listening, fail to recognize a power in the voice -- surely the fault lies with the speaker, who, having attempted to secure their attention and enlighten their understandings, has failed in the attempt.
hygiene literature objects
The object of Literature is to instruct, to animate, or to amuse.
life air water
In the air we breathe, in the water we drink, in the earth we tread on, Life is every where. Nature lives: every pore is bursting with Life ; every death is only a new birth, every grave a cradle.