George William Russell
George William Russell
George William Russellwho wrote with the pseudonym Æ, was an Irish writer, editor, critic, poet, artistic painter and Irish nationalist. He was also a writer on mysticism, and a central personage in the group of devotees of theosophy which met in Dublin for many years...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth10 April 1867
CountryIreland
art biological practise realise
We realise that natural aptitudes are not interchangeable, and each person must, of biological or spiritual necessity, practise the art for which he is fitted.
man power seems
Nothing exasperates the spirit in man more than power which seems unconquerable and which makes impotent all protest.
work yield
We have control over the work of our hands, but little over the working of the soul. But yet we must yield to it, for without it we have nothing.
defeated great victors wars
The victors in great wars have always been spiritually defeated by the conquered.
endure human ideal landlord life relation relations social spirit sympathy
The relation of landlord and tenant is not an ideal one, but any relations in a social order will endure if there is infused into them some of that spirit of human sympathy which qualifies life for immortality.
controls country entire lay taxation trade whoever
I lay this down as a fundamental proposition, which I do not think will be denied, that whoever controls the taxation and trade policy of a country controls its destiny and the entire character of its civilization.
blown centuries shall
The wind from the Kingdom of Heaven has blown all over the world, and shall blow for centuries yet.
infinitely worst
We have the universe to roam in in imagination. It is our virtue to be infinitely varied. The worst tyranny is uniformity.
draws men themselves
The world can only be free when men are content in themselves and each draws from his own fountain.
dominion dwell house intricate life perfection single wisdom work
We dwell in the house of the body, but its perfection and intricate life are the work of a wisdom which never relaxes dominion over a single cell.
conflicts create door enemies enter hate hence imagine intensity might nations open passionate places result secret themselves truth
By intensity of hatred, nations create in themselves the character that they imagine in their enemies. Hence it comes that all passionate conflicts result in an interchange of characteristics. We might say with truth, those who hate open a door by which their enemies enter and make their own the secret places of the heart.
listen myriad orator prove replica
It is true the orator may make a myriad replica of his own passion out of those who listen to him. But that does not prove he is right or they are not fools.
exercise great grow hate likeness love magical power soul
Love and hate have a magical transforming power. They are the great soul changers. We grow through their exercise into the likeness of what we contemplate.
beauty drunk hearts
Our hearts were drunk with a beauty Our eyes could never see.