Oliver Wendell Holmes
Oliver Wendell Holmes
Oliver Wendell Holmes was the name of two prominent men, father and son:...
act decides faith great man
The great act of faith is when a man decides he is not God.
ability action life man passion peril required share
As life is action and passion, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of his time, at the peril of being not to have lived.
action judged life man passion peril required share
Life is action and passion; therefore, it is required of a man that he should share the passion and action of the time, at peril of being judged not to have lived.
knows man wisdom
The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions.
integrity man money
A man is usually more careful of his money than of his principles.
adding chief form general man science worth
I hate facts. I always say the chief end of man is to form general propositions - adding that no general proposition is worth a damn.
chief frame general ideas man worth
The chief end of a man is to frame general ideas - and... no general idea is worth a damn.
men young old-man
Young men know the rules, but old men know the exceptions.
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An artist that works in marble or colors has them all to himself and his tribe, but the man who molds his thoughts in verse has to employ the materials vulgarized by everybody's use, and glorify them by his handling
action actions claims commit man men power required sin special utilize within
You commit a sin of omission if you do not utilize all the power that is within you. All men have claims on man, and to the man with special talents, this is a very special claim. It is required that a man take part in the actions and clashes of his
common draught fair flavor genius grand mediocrity neutrality spoils weak
Unpretending mediocrity is good, and genius is glorious; but a weak flavor of genius in an essentially common person is detestable. It spoils the grand neutrality of a commonplace character, as the rinsings of an unwashed wine-glass spoil a draught of fair water.
angel brains closes gives hands key life mind seventy winds year
Our brains our seventy year clocks, the angel of life winds them up once and for all, then closes the case, and gives the key into the hands of the angel of resurrection.
amuse battered boys conversation people puns railroad sake themselves train trick upset
People who make puns are like wanton boys that put coppers on the railroad tracks. They amuse themselves and other children, but their little trick may upset a freight train of conversation for the sake of a battered witticism.
enthusiasm faith life looking quote-of-the-day worth
It is faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth looking at.