Thomas Carlyle

Essayist, Historian, Novelist

Thomas Carlyle was a Scottish philosopher and historian known for his influential works on history and heroism, particularly 'On Heroes and Hero Worship.'

Born
December 4, 1795
Died
February 5, 1881
Quotes
820
Rank
#564

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Thomas Carlyle quotes (page 4 of 41)

820 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"We were wise indeed, could we discern truly the signs of our own time; and by knowledge of its wants and advantages, wisely adjust our own position in it. Let us, instead of gazing idly into the obscure distance, look calmly around us, for a little, on the perplexed scene where we stand. Perhaps, on a more serious inspection, something of its perplexity will disappear, some of its distinctive characters and deeper tendencies more clearly reveal themselves; whereby our own relations to it, our own true aims and endeavors in it, may also become clearer."

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Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"Popular opinion is the greatest lie in the world."

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Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do that with all thy might and leave the issues calmly to God."

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Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"A laugh, to be joyous, must flow from a joyous heart, for without kindness, there can be no true joy."

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Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"The first duty of man is to conquer fear; he must get rid of it, he cannot act till then."

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"Talk that does not end in any kind of action is better suppressed altogether."

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"The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Husain and his companions were rigid believers in God. They illustrated that the numerical superiority does not count when it comes to the truth and the falsehood. The victory of Husain, despite his minority, marvels me!"

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Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"The true university of these days is a collection of books."

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"If you do not wish a man to do a thing, you had better get him to talk about it; for the more men talk, the more likely they are to do nothing else."

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"Hero-worship exists, has existed, and will forever exist, universally, among mankind."

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Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"Man is emphatically a proselytizing creature."

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Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"Parliament will train you to talk; and above all things to hear, with patience, unlimited quantities of foolish talk."

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"Do the duty which lies nearest to you, the second duty will then become clearer."

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"Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure there is one less rascal in the world."

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"One monster there is in the world, the idle man."

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Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"He that can work is born to be king of something."

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Thomas Carlyle Essayist, Historian, Novelist
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"With respect to duels, indeed, I have my own ideas. Few things in this so surprising world strike me with more surprise. Two little visual spectra of men, hovering with insecure enough cohesion in the midst of the unfathomable, and to dissolve therein, at any rate, very soon, make pause at the distance of twelve paces asunder; whirl around, and simultaneously by the cunningest mechanism, explode one another into dissolution; and, offhand, become air, and non-extant--the little spitfires!"

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"Laissez-faire, supply and demand-one begins to be weary of all that. Leave all to egotism, to ravenous greed of money, of pleasure, of applause-it is the gospel of despair."

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