George Henry Lewes

“The true function of philosophy is to educate us in the principles of reasoning and not to put an end to further reasoning by the introduction of fixed conclusions.”

“Literature delivers tidings of the world within and the world without.”

“Science is not addressed to poets.”

“Endeavour to be faithful, and if there is any beauty in your thought, your style will be beautiful; if there is any real emotion to express, the expression will be moving.”

“Science is the systematic classification of experience.”

“In all sincere speech there is power, not necessarily great power, but as much as the speaker is capable of.”

“The delusions of self-love cannot be prevented, but intellectual misconceptions as to the means of achieving success may be corrected.”

“Insight is the first condition of Art.”

“The object of Literature is to instruct, to animate, or to amuse.”

“Genius is rarely able to give any account of its own processes.”

“If you feel yourself to be above the mass, speak so as to raise the mass to the height of your argument.”

“A man may be variously accomplished, and yet be a feeble poet.”

“Books have become our dearest companions, yielding exquisite delights and inspiring lofty aims.”

“Insincerity is always weakness; sincerity even in error is strength.”

“Murder, like talent, seems occasionally to run in families.”

“Philosophy and Art both render the invisible visible by imagination.”

“Imagination is not the exclusive appanage of artists, but belongs in varying degrees to all men.”

“As all Art depends on Vision, so the different kinds of Art depend on the different ways in which minds look at things.”

“Speak for yourself and from yourself, or be silent.”

“All bad Literature rests upon imperfect insight, or upon imitation, which may be defined as seeing at second-hand.”