EBEdward Bulwer Lytton

188 collected words

Edward Bulwer Lytton

Life dates: 1805 AD — 1873 AD

Listed in the author section of Bartlett’s ninth-edition anthology, in the linked 1905 printing. Dates reflect that historical edition and may differ from modern scholarship.

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Quotations and sayings

01c. 1839 AD

Curse away! And let me tell thee, Beausant, a wise proverb The Arabs have,—"Curses are like young chickens, And still come home to roost."

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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02c. 1839 AD

Beneath the rule of men entirely great, The pen is mightier than the sword.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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03c. 1839 AD

Take away the sword; States can be saved without it.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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04c. 1839 AD

In the lexicon of youth, which fate reserves For a bright manhood, there is no such word As "fail."

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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05c. 1839 AD

The brilliant chief, irregularly great, Frank, haughty, rash,—the Rupert of debate!

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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06c. 1839 AD

Alone!—that worn-out word, So idly spoken, and so coldly heard; Yet all that poets sing and grief hath known Of hopes laid waste, knells in that word Alone!

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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07c. 1839 AD

When stars are in the quiet skies, Then most I pine for thee; Bend on me then thy tender eyes, As stars look on the sea.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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08c. 1839 AD

Buy my flowers,—oh buy, I pray! The blind girl comes from afar.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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09c. 1839 AD

The man who smokes, thinks like a sage and acts like a Samaritan.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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10Undated

In all cases of heart-ache, the application of another man's disappointment draws out the pain and allays the irritation.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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11Undated

Say what we will, you may be sure that ambition is an error; its wear and tear of heart are never recompensed,—it steals away the freshness of life,—it deadens its vivid and social enjoyments,—it shuts our souls to our own youth,—and we are old ere we remember that we have made a fever and a labor of our raciest years.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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12Undated

Man hazards the condition and loses the virtues of freeman, in proportion as he accustoms his thoughts to view without anguish or shame his lapse into the bondage of debtor.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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13Undated

The rust rots the steel which use preserves.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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14Undated

Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm; it moves stones, it charms brutes. Enthusiasm is the genius of sincerity, and truth accomplishes no victories without it.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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15Undated

Life, that ever needs forgiveness, has, for its first duty, to forgive.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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16Undated

There is no man so friendless but that he can find a friend sincere enough to tell him disagreeable truths.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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17Undated

Happiness and virtue react upon each other,—the best are not only the happiest, but the happiest are usually the best.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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18Undated

Refuse to be ill. Never tell people you are ill; never own it to yourself. Illness is one of those things which a man should resist on principle at the onset.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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19Undated

In these days half our diseases come from neglect of the body in overwork of the brain

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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20Undated

We are born for a higher destiny than that of earth; there is a realm where the rainbow never fades, where the stars will be spread before us like islands that slumber on the ocean, and where the beings that pass before us like shadows will stay in our presence forever.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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21Undated

There is certainly something of exquisite kindness and thoughtful benevolence in that rarest of gifts,—fine breeding.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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22Undated

The distinguishing trait of people accustomed to good society is a calm, imperturbable quiet which pervades all their actions and habits, from the greatest to the least. They eat in quiet, move in quiet, live in quiet, and lose their wife, or even their money, in quiet; while low persons cannot take up either a spoon or an affront without making such an amazing noise about it.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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23Undated

There is no policy like politeness; and a good manner is the best thing in the world, either to get one a good name or to supply the want of it.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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24Undated

In beginning the world, if you don't wish to get chafed at every turn, fold up your pride carefully, put it under lock and key, and only let it out to air upon grand occasions. Pride is a garment all stiff brocade outside, all grating sackcloth on the side next to the skin.

Edward Bulwer Lytton / quote

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