There is first the literature of knowledge, and secondly, the
literature of power. The function of the first is--to teach; the
function of the second is--to move, the first is a rudder, the
second an oar or a sail. The first speaks to the mere discursive
understanding; the second speaks ultimately, it may happen, to
the higher understanding or reason, but always through affections
of pleasure and sympathy.
- Thomas De Quincey ("The Opium Eater"),
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Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a read more
Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill.
The writing of a poem is like a child throwing stones into a mineshaft. You compose first, then you listen read more
The writing of a poem is like a child throwing stones into a mineshaft. You compose first, then you listen for the reverberation.
After all, all he did was string together a lot of old, well-known quotations.
After all, all he did was string together a lot of old, well-known quotations.
Literature is the thought of thinking Souls.
Literature is the thought of thinking Souls.
The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the curious read more
The poets did well to conjoin music and medicine, because the office of medicine is but to tune the curious harp of man's body.
Only two classes of books are of universal appeal. The very best and the very worst.
Only two classes of books are of universal appeal. The very best and the very worst.
The universe is made up of stories, not of atoms.
The universe is made up of stories, not of atoms.
The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean; not to affect your reader, but read more
The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean; not to affect your reader, but to affect him precisely as you wish.
The advantage of a classical education is that it enables you to despise the wealth which it prevents you from read more
The advantage of a classical education is that it enables you to despise the wealth which it prevents you from achieving.
