G. H. Lewes Quotes

Shakespeare is a good raft whereon to float securely down the stream of time; fasten yourself to that and your immortality is safe.

The history of the race is but that of the individual "writ large".

It is always understood as an expression of condemnation when anything in Literature or Art is said to be done for effect; and yet to produce an effect is the aim and end of both.

There are occasions when the simplest and fewest words surpass in effect all the wealth of rhetorical amplification.

Ideas are forces; our acceptance of one determines our reception of others.

There are many justifications of silence; there can be none of insincerity.

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

Science is not addressed to poets.

Language, after all, is only the use of symbols, and Art also can only affect us through symbols.

Individual experiences being limited and individual spontaneity feeble, we are strengthened and enriched by assimilating the experience of others.

Vehemence without feeling is but rant.

The opinion of the majority is not lightly to be rejected; but neither is it to be carelessly echoed.

Whatever lies beyond the limits of experience, and claims another origin than that of induction and deduction from established data, is illegitimate.

To his [ Plato's ] great disappointment, he found Anaxagoras adducing simple physical reasons, instead of the teleological reasons, which he had expected. Such a teacher could no longer allure him.

It is not enough that a man has clearness of vision, and reliance on sincerity, he must also have the art of expression, or he will remain obscure.

The magic of the pen lies in the concentration of your thoughts upon one object.

Speak for yourself and from yourself, or be silent.

The artist is called a creator.

I am suspicious without a motive, and jealous without love; although I feel I ought to love since I desire to be loved.

Mathematicians do not write for the circulating library.

Insight is the first condition of Art.

Personal experience is the basis of all real Literature.

Insincerity is always weakness sincerity even in error is strength.