Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlyle
Thomas Carlylewas a Scottish philosopher, satirical writer, essayist, historian and teacher. Considered one of the most important social commentators of his time, he presented many lectures during his lifetime with certain acclaim in the Victorian era. One of those conferences resulted in his famous work On Heroes, Hero-Worship, and The Heroic in History where he explains that the key role in history lies in the actions of the "Great Man", claiming that "History is nothing but the biography of the...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth4 December 1795
It is the heart always that sees, before the head can see.
The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder -- waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life, and, having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.
He who cannot withal keep his mind to himself cannot practice any considerable thing whatsoever.
Speak not at all, in any wise, till you have somewhat to speak; care not for the reward of your speaking, but simply and with undivided mind for the truth of your speaking.
A mind that has seen, and suffered, and done, speaks to us of what it has tried and conquered.
A man with a half volition goes backwards and forwards, and makes no way on the smoothest road; a man with a whole volition advances on the roughest, and will reach his purpose, if there be even a little worthiness in it. The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder - a waif, a nothing, a no man. Have a purpose in life and having it, throw such strength of mind and muscle into your work as God has given you.
The grand result of schooling is a mind with just vision to discern, with free force to do: the grand schoolmaster is Practice.
Metaphysics is the attempt of the mind to rise above the mind.
Authors are the vanguard in the march of mind, the intellectual backwoodsmen, reclaiming from the idle wilderness new territories for the thought and activity of their happier brethren.
Have a purpose in life, and having it, throw into your work such strength of mind and muscle as God has given you.
Once the mind has been expanded by a big idea, it will never go back to its original state.
The lightning spark of thought generated in the solitary mind awakens its likeness in another mind.
Ill-health, of body or of mind, is defeat. Health alone is victory. Let all men, if they can manage it, contrive to be healthy!
Sarcasm is the language of the devil, for which reason I have long since as good as renounced it