Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet, FRSEwas a Scottish historical novelist, playwright and poet with many contemporary readers in Europe, Australia, and North America...
NationalityScottish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth15 August 1771
religious pain real
Perhaps the perusal of such works may, without injustice, be compared with the use of opiates, baneful, when habitually and constantly resorted to, but of most blessed power in those moments of pain and of langour, when the whole head is sore, and the whole heart sick. If those who rail indiscriminately at this species of composition, were to consider the quantity of actual pleasure it produces, and the much greater proportion of real sorrow and distress which it alleviates, their philanthropy ought to moderate their critical pride, or religious intolerance.
animal monk trusted
Certainly," quoth Athelstane, "women are the least to be trusted of all animals, monks and abbots excepted.
heart world crystals
...crystal and hearts would lose all their merit in the world if it were not for their fragility.
sorry literature staff
Literature is a great staff, but a very sorry crutch.
should-have soldier abuse
Fortune may raise up or abuse the ordinary mortal, but the sage and the soldier should have minds beyond her control.
greatness path virtue
The paths of virtue, though seldom those of worldly greatness, are always those of pleasantness and peace.
eye heart looks
It is only when I dally with what I am about, look back and aside, instead of keeping my eyes straight forward, that I feel these cold sinkings of the heart.
friendship doe attrition
The chain of friendship, however bright, does not stand the attrition of constant close contact.
stand-by-me littles
I like a highland friend who will stand by me not only when I am in the right, but when I am a little in the wrong.
true-love men fire
True love's the gift which God has given To man alone beneath the heaven: It is not fantasy's hot fire, Whose wishes soon as granted fly; It liveth not in fierce desire.
gold looks gowns
Look at a gown of gold, and you will at least get a sleeve of it.
adversity
Adversity is, to me at least, a tonic and a bracer.
war games sides
War is the only game in which both sides lose.
philosophy party philosophical
A Finnan haddock has a relish of a peculiar and delicate flavour, inimitable on any other coast than that of Aberdeenshire. Some of our Edinburgh philosophers tried to produce their equal in vain. I was one of a party at dinner where the philosophical haddocks were placed in competition with the genuine Finnan fish. These were served round without distinguishing whence they came; but only one gentleman out of twelve present espoused the cause of philosophy.