James Stephens
James Stephens
James Stephenswas an Irish novelist and poet...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth2 February 1882
CountryIreland
answer ask frame meditate occupation
To ask questions can become the laziest and wobbliest occupation of a mind, but when you must yourself answer the problem that you have posed, you will meditate your question with care and frame it with precision.
believing either follow happening higher knowledge magic possible quite seeing
Knowledge, may it be said, is higher than magic and is more to be sought. It is quite possible to see what is happening and yet not know what is forward, for while seeing is believing, it does not follow that either seeing or believing is knowing.
domestic economy entire half men muddle political understood women
If men understood domestic economy half as well as women do, then their political economy and their entire consequent statecraft would not be the futil muddle which it is.
chaos continuity happiness order
Chaos is the first condition. Order is the first law. Continuity is the first reflection. Quietude is the first happiness.
carelessly curiosity death either experience honest life next runs stage towards
Life runs to death as its goal, and we should go towards that next stage of experience either carelessly as to what must be, or with a good, honest curiosity as to what may be.
brave conquer fear irish-poet
Curiosity will conquer fear even more than bravery will.
beginning quietness silent stars
Quietness is the beginning of virtue. To be silent is to be beautiful. Stars do not make a noise.
irish-poet
A sword, a spade, and a thought should never be allowed to rust.
beyond feeling lies personal privileged vanity
Under all wrongdoing lies personal vanity or the feeling that we are endowed and privileged beyond our fellows.
almost certainly endeavour explain intimate less minutes parallel quarter quite themselves
A man and a woman may become quite intimate in a quarter of an hour. Almost certainly will they endeavour to explain themselves to each other before many minutes have elapsed; but a man and a man will not do this, and even less so will a woman and a woman, for these are parallel lines which will never meet.
healthy knows man natural nature quickly reduce wash
Any fool can wash himself, but every wise man knows that it is an unnecessary labour, for nature will quickly reduce him to a natural and healthy dirtiness again.
birth case death far men mercantile mysteries occupy political whom women
The mysteries of death and birth occupy women far more than is the case with men, to whom political and mercantile speculations are more congenial.
assistance business giving god proper
God did not need any assistance, but man did; bitterly he wanted it, and the giving of such assistance was the proper business of a woman.
good island price
Long Island did good this year. It's the price that got them in, it's a good deal.