"A thing may look specious in theory, and yet be ruinous in practice; a thing may look evil in theory, and yet be in practice excellent."
Read quote
3 likes
Practice quotes
Practice
4.4K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
Explore further
Topics related to Practice
Browse quotes that often appear alongside practice — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
Quote collection
Practice quotes (page 52 of 219)
Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.
"The science of constructing a commonwealth, or renovating it, or reforming it, is, like every other experimental science, not to be taught a priori. Nor is it a short experience that can instruct us in that practical science, because the real effects of moral causes are not always immediate."
Read quote
3 likes
"In business sharp practice sometimes succeeds, but in art honesty is not only the best but the only policy."
Read quote
3 likes
"Well, it may be all right in practice, but it will never work in theory"
Read quote
3 likes
"I make no effort to predict the course of general business or the stock market. Period. However, currently there are practices snowballing in the security markets and business world which, while devoid of short term predictive value, bother me as to possible long term consequences."
Read quote
3 likes
"The purpose of life is to be happy. I don't think it's any more complicated than that. It's also important not to interfere with anybody else's right to do the same. We just need to practice that. It's the Golden Rule."
Read quote
3 likes
"Practice beauty appreciation in as many places as possible. Nature provides a virtual smorgasbord of miracles. See the beauty in all of it."
Read quote
3 likes
"You have to recognize that God isn't something outside of you - a cosmic bellboy to whom you pray in order to get this or that if you do the right things. Those kinds of understandings are all ego talk. Everybody - you, me, Osama bin Laden, Adolf Hitler - we all came from the same Source. Then we took on these egos and began to practice all kinds of things based in not having reverence for life, whereas that which is God has reverence for all life. All excuses are nothing more than misalignments with God."
Read quote
3 likes
"Our civilization cannot survive materially unless it is redeemed spiritually. It can be saved only by becoming permeated with the Spirit of Christ, and being made free and happy by practices which spring out of that spirit. Only thus can discontent be driven out and all shadows lifted from the road ahead."
Read quote
3 likes
"Lewis sought no disciples, nor does he offer a program or solution, rather his contribution is a critical discipline. Lewis is a stimulant, a mode of perception, rather than a position or practice."
Read quote
3 likes
"After years of practice, I can walk into a bookstore and understand its layout in a few seconds. I can glance at the spine of a book and make a good guess at its content from a number of signs."
Read quote
3 likes
"Art is action. The way I live my life to its highest degree is by writing, the practice of art."
Read quote
3 likes
"There are dance artists, painting artists and writing artists. Authors are writing artists. You can practice art in whatever medium you choose, and words are mine."
Read quote
3 likes
"The thing that's most important in getting you in the best mindest is just being prepared - having a great practice, and knowing that no matter what knowing you're going to go in with confidence. You need to have that confidence to power through."
Read quote
3 likes
"Oh, are we at the insult part of the breakup?" she says. "Because I got in a lot of practice after what happened with Will. I have several choice things to say about her nose."
Read quote
3 likes
"Art too is just a way of living, and however one lives, one can, without knowing, prepare for it; in everything real one is closer to it, more its neighbor, than in the unreal half-artistic professions, which, while they pretend to be close to art, in practice deny and attack the existence of all art - as, for example, all of journalism does and almost all criticism and three quarters of what is called (and wants to be called) literature."
Read quote
3 likes
"Mental life is indeed practical through and through. It begins in practice and it ends in practice."
Read quote
3 likes
"In practice it is seldom very hard to do one's duty when one knows what it is, but it is sometimes extremely difficult to find this out."
Read quote
3 likes
"We ought to be cautious in taking even the best ascertained opinions and practices of the primitive Church for our own. If it could be satisfactorily shown that they esteemed it authorized and transmitted forever, that does not settle the question for us. We know how inveterately they were attached to their Jewish prejudices, and how often even the influence of Christ failed to enlarge their views. On every other subject succeeding times have learned to form a judgement more in accordance with the spirit of Christianity than was the practice of the early ages."
Read quote
3 likes
"If you say that a good reputation serves to benefit the neighbor more, I admit that. However, since it should be based on a good life, it is, therefore, preserved by the practice of virtue and not by human intrigue."
Read quote
3 likes