R.S. Thomas Quotes

Men as well as rivers grow crooked by following the path of least resistance.

The fire of hell is called eternal, only because it never ends. Still, there is change in the pains of the lost... Hence in hell true eternity does not exist, but rather time.

Man has free choice, or otherwise counsels, exhortations, commands, prohibitions, rewards and punishments would be in vain.

A manager is an assistant to his men.

Multiply your age times your realized pretax annual household income from all sources except inheritances. Divide by ten. This, less any inherited wealth, is what your net worth should be.

It’s easier to accumulate wealth if you don’t live in a high-status neighborhood.

The first and most optimistic response was complete rational expectations econometrics. A rational expectations equilibrium is a likelihood function. Maximize it.

Teams are successful when they are focused, have a short cycle time, and are supported by the executives.

Man's Place in Nature.

No delusion is greater than the notion that method and industry can make up for lack of mother-wit, either in science or in practical life.

The only question which any wise man can ask himself, and which any honest man will ask himself, is whether a doctrine is true or false.

Agnosticism simply means that a man shall not say that he knows or believes that for which he has no grounds for professing to believe.

I took thought, and invented what I conceived to be the appropriate title of 'agnostic'.

In fact a favourite problem of Tyndall is-Given the molecular forces in a mutton chop, deduce Hamlet or Faust therefrom. He is confident that the Physics of the Future will solve this easily.

Size is not grandeur, and territory does not make a nation.

Follow humbly wherever and to whatever abyss Nature leads, or you shall learn nothing.

I take it that the good of mankind means the attainment, by every man, of all the happiness which he can enjoy without diminishing the happiness of his fellow men

Rome is the one great spiritual organisation which is able to resist and must, as a matter of life and death, the progress of science and modern civilization

Characteristics which define beauty are wholeness, harmony and radiance.

I do not say think as I think, but think in my way. Fear no shadows, least of all in that great spectre of personal unhappiness which binds half the world to orthodoxy.

In order for a war to be just, three things are necessary. First, the authority of the sovereign... Secondly, a just cause... Thirdly... a rightful intention.

The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon.

In matters of intellect, follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard for any other consideration.

A man's worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes.

The only people, scientific or other, who never make mistakes are those who do nothing.

I want to leave behind me the name of a fellow who never bullied a little boy, or turned his back on a big one.

The only enemy of art is taste.

To appreciate a work of art, is it okay to like what you like, and the heck with the art critics and experts? Absolutely.

The Autumn is old; The sere leaves are flying; He hath gather'd up gold, And now he is dying;- Old age, begin sighing!

The year's in wane; There is nothing adorning; The night has no eve, And the day has no morning; Cold winter gives warning!

Ben Battle was a soldier bold, and used to war's alarms, But a cannon-ball took off his legs, so he laid down his arms.

We trust as we love, and where we love. If we love Christ much, surely we shall trust him much.

Geometry is the only science that it hath pleased God hitherto to bestow on mankind.

Man is distinguished not only by his reason, but also by this singular passion, from all other animals.

The science which teacheth arts and handicrafts is merely science for the gaining of a living; but the science which teacheth deliverance from worldly existence, is not that the true science?

They that approve a private opinion, call it opinion; but they that dislike it, heresy; and yet heresy signifies no more than private opinion.

For after the subject is removed or the eye shut, we still retain an image of the things seen, though more obscure than when we see it...Imagination, therefore, is nothing more than decaying sense.

For as to the strength of body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination or by confederacy with others that are in the same danger with himself

Thoughts are to the Desires as Scouts and Spies, to range abroad, and find the way to the things Desired.

The Papacy is not other than the Ghost of the deceased Roman Empire, sitting crowned upon the grave thereof.

The best men are the least suspicious of fraudulent purposes.

He that is taken and put into prison or chains is not conquered, though overcome; for he is still an enemy.

As soon as a thought darts, I write it down.

If men are naturally in a state of war, why do they always carry arms and why do they have keys to lock their doors?

So easy are men to be drawn to believe any thing, from such men as have gotten credit with them; and can with gentleness and dexterity take hold of their fear and ignorance.

I think, therefore matter is capable of thinking.

And as in other things, so in men, not the seller, but the buyer determines the Price.

Terry Bradshaw couldn’t spell ‘cat’ if you spotted him the ‘C’ and the ‘A’.

I knew that I had done something that no man had been able to do to a champion.

The soul is known by it's acts.