Quote

The habit of pleasing by flattery makes a language soft the fear of offending by truth makes it circuitous and conventional.

Walter Savage Landor

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Walter Savage Landor
Age: 89 †
Born: 1775
Born: January 30
Died: 1864
Died: September 17
Poet
Writer
Warwick
Warwickshire
Truth
Pleasing
Flattery
Conventional
Soft
Habit
Language
Fear
Circuitous
Makes
Offending

More quotes by Walter Savage Landor

Image
He who brings ridicule to bear against truth finds in his hand a blade without a hilt. The most sparkling and pointed flame of wit flickers and expires against the incombustible walls of her sanctuary.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
The happiest of pillows is not that which love first presses! it is that which death has frowned on and passed over.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
Goodness does not more certainly make men happy than happiness makes them good.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
Great men always pay deference to greater.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
Sculpture and painting are moments of life poetry is life itself.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
We fancy that our afflictions are sent us directly from above sometimes we think it in piety and contrition, but oftener in moroseness and discontent.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
In the morn of life we are alert, we are heated in its noon, and only in its decline do we repose.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
We cannot at once catch the applauses of the vulgar and expect the approbation of the wise.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
The wise become as the unwise in the enchanted chambers of Power, whose lamps make every face the same colour.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
O what a thing is age! Death without death's quiet.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
We cannot conquer fate and necessity, yet we can yield to them in such a manner as to be greater than if we could.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
Wise or unwise, who doubts for a moment that contentment is the cause of happiness? Yet the inverse is true: we are contented because we are happy, and not happy because we are contented. Well-regulated minds may be satisfied with a small portion of happiness none can be happy with a small portion of content.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
Fleas know not whether they are upon the body of a giant or upon one of ordinary size.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
Truth, like the juice of the poppy, in small quantities, calms men in larger, heats and irritates them, and is attended by fatal consequences in excess.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
Shakespeare is not our poet, but the world's.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
We talk on principal, but act on motivation.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
It appears to be among the laws of nature, that the mighty of intellect should be pursued and carped by the little, as the solitary flight of one great bird is followed by the twittering petulance of many smaller.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
O Music! how it grieves me that imprudence, intemperance, gluttony, should open their channels into thy sacred stream.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
Principles do not mainly influence even the principled we talk on principle, but we act on interest.
Walter Savage Landor
Image
It often comes into my head That we may dream when we are dead, But I am far from sure we do. O that it were so! then my rest Would be indeed among the blest I should for ever dream of you.
Walter Savage Landor