William Hazlitt
William Hazlitt
William Hazlittwas an English writer, drama and literary critic, painter, social commentator, and philosopher. He is now considered one of the greatest critics and essayists in the history of the English language, placed in the company of Samuel Johnson and George Orwell. He is also acknowledged as the finest art critic of his age. Despite his high standing among historians of literature and art, his work is currently little read and mostly out of print...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionCritic
Date of Birth10 April 1778
excel genius labor men profession
Men of genius do not excel in any profession because they labor in it, but they labor in it because they excel
genius merit assumption
The assumption of merit is easier, less embarrassing, and more effectual than the actual attainment of it.
genius dandyism variety
Dandyism is a variety of genius.
genius monument behinds
Genius only leaves behind it the monuments of its strength.
genius dandyism species
Dandyism is a species of genius.
genius talent capacity
Talent is the capacity of doing anything that depends on application and industry and it is a voluntary power, while genius is involuntary.
men genius virtue
Death cancels everything but truth; and strips a man of everything but genius and virtue. It is a sort of natural canonization.
people genius vocation
People of genius do not excel in any profession because they work in it, they work in it because they excel.
art bright common compose conveyed fine gentle lesson letting lives mind neglect note rest side slip smiles sunny time turning watch
What a fine lesson is conveyed to the mind -- to take no note of time but by its benefits, to watch only for the smiles and neglect the frowns of fate, to compose our lives of bright and gentle moments, turning always to the sunny side of things, and letting the rest slip for our imaginations, unheeded or forgotten! How different from the common art of self-tormenting!
adopt grow hear others reconcile sell tired willing
We grow tired of ourselves, much more of other people. Use may in part reconcile us to our own tediousness, but we do not adopt that of others on the same paternal principle. We may be willing to sell a story twice, never to hear one more than once.
forever last words
Words are the only things that last forever
afraid animal greatest ungrateful
There is no more mean, stupid, dastardly, pitiful, selfish, spiteful, envious, ungrateful animal than the Public. It is the greatest of cowards, for it is afraid of itself.
inspirational flow action
Everything is in motion. Everything flows. Everything is vibrating.
liars practice effort
Habitual liars invent falsehoods not to gain any end or even to deceive their hearers, but to amuse themselves. It is partly practice and partly habit. It requires an effort in them to speak truth.