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
art science purpose
In Science the paramount appeal is to the Intellect-its purpose being instruction; in Art, the paramount appeal is to the Emotions-its purpose being pleasure.
nature science views
Every one who has seriously investigated a novel question, who has really interrogated Nature with a view to a distinct answer, will bear me out in saying that it requires intense and sustained effort of imagination.
science poet accounts
Science is not addressed to poets.
science vision facts
The discoverer and the poet are inventors; and they are so because their mental vision detects the unapparent, unsuspected facts, almost as vividly as ocular vision rests on the apparent and familiar.
writing science library
Mathematicians do not write for the circulating library.
science giving able
Genius is rarely able to give any account of its own processes.
science systematic classification
Science is the systematic classification of experience.
taste opinion human-nature
Those works alone can have enduring success which successfully appeal to what is permanent in human nature -- which, while suiting the taste of the day, contain truths and beauty deeper than the opinions and tastes of the day.
safe immortality streams
Shakespeare is a good raft whereon to float securely down the stream of time; fasten yourself to that and your immortality is safe.
commonly effective
Sincerity is not only effective and honourable, it is also much less difficult than is commonly supposed.
among familiar men objects ordinary
Ordinary men live among marvels and feel no wonder, grow familiar with objects and learn nothing new about them.
mind
The superiority of one mind over another depends on the rapidity with which experiences are thus organised.
philosophy finals causes
The spontaneous tendency to invoke a Final Cause in explanation of every difficulty is characteristic of metaphysical philosophy. It arises from a general tendency towards the impersonation of abstractions which is visible throughout History.
mean self intellectual
The delusions of self-love cannot be prevented, but intellectual misconceptions as to the means of achieving success may be corrected.