George Henry Lewes
George Henry Lewes
George Henry Leweswas an English philosopher and critic of literature and theatre. He became part of the mid-Victorian ferment of ideas which encouraged discussion of Darwinism, positivism, and religious skepticism. However, he is perhaps best known today for having openly lived with Mary Ann Evans, who wrote under the pen-name George Eliot, as soulmates whose life and writings were enriched by their relationship, despite never marrying...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth18 April 1817
among familiar men objects ordinary
Ordinary men live among marvels and feel no wonder, grow familiar with objects and learn nothing new about them.
steps inquiry analogies
The separation of Science from Knowledge was effected step by step as the Subjective Method was replaced by the Objective Method: i.e., when in each inquiry the phenomena of external nature ceased to be interpreted on premisses suggested by the analogies of human nature.
uprising independence originality
Originality is independence, not rebellion; it is sincerity, not antagonism.
genuine moved
The public can only be really moved by what is genuine.
train-of-thought indispensable train
In complex trains of thought signs are indispensable.
statements
Pliny... makes the statement, and for untrustworthiness of statement he cannot easily be surpassed.
good-writers
Good writers are of necessity rare.
majority opinion rejected
The opinion of the majority is not lightly to be rejected; but neither is it to be carelessly echoed.
hygiene progress literature
Literature is at once the cause and the effect of social progress.
hygiene literature objects
The object of Literature is to instruct, to animate, or to amuse.
spontaneity individual
Individual experiences being limited and individual spontaneity feeble, we are strengthened and enriched by assimilating the experience of others.
commonly effective
Sincerity is not only effective and honourable, it is also much less difficult than is commonly supposed.