Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy, OMwas an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, especially William Wordsworth. Charles Dickens was another important influence. Like Dickens, he was highly critical of much in Victorian society, though Hardy focused more on a declining rural society...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth2 June 1840
argument good history peace poor rattling war
My argument is that War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading.
blending courage english-novelist physical
Patience, that blending of moral courage with physical timidity.
advanced avoid avoidance english-novelist far seldom till
A resolution to avoid an evil is seldom framed till the evil is so far advanced as to make avoidance impossible.
condition english-novelist
There is a condition worse than blindness, and that is, seeing something that isn't there.
becomes cannot life lose pessimism playing possible reckoned sure view worst
Pessimism is, in brief, playing the sure game. You cannot lose at it; you may gain. It is the only view of life in which you can never be disappointed. Having reckoned what to do in the worst possible circumstances, when better arise, as they may, life becomes child's play.
ages english-novelist poet
My opinion is that a poet should express the emotion of all the ages and the thought of his own.
cannot
No one can read with profit that which he cannot learn to read with pleasure.
english-novelist
If way to the better there be, it exacts a full look at the worst.
cruelty english-novelist nature
Cruelty is the law pervading all nature and society; and we can't get out of it if we would.
clear common remarkably seemed sky stars
The sky was clear -- remarkably clear -- and the twinkling of all the stars seemed to be but throbs of one body, timed by a common pulse.
approach approaches curve directly doubtful grave less line reach seemed straight till
Indeed, he seemed to approach the grave as a hyperbolic curve approaches a straight line -- less directly as he got nearer, till it was doubtful if he would ever reach it at all.
snow spare till time waits
I need not go / Through sleet and snow / To where I know / She waits for me: / She will tarry there / Till I find it fair, / And have time to spare / From company.
victim
Once victim, always victim -- that's the law!
love paths smile
Smile out; but still suffer: / The paths of love are rougher / Than thoroughfares of stones.