William Matthews
William Matthews
reading knowledge blow
Solitary reading will enable a man to stuff himself with information, but without conversation his mind will become like a pond without an outlet-a mass of unhealthy stag-nature. It is not enough to harvest knowledge by study; the wind of talk must winnow it and blow away the chaff. Then will the clear, bright grains of wisdom be garnered, for our own use or that of others.
done artistic wells
The smallest thing, well done, becomes artistic.
talent shallow faculty
One well-cultivated talent, deepened and enlarged, is worth one hundred shallow faculties.
gratitude blessing self
The difficulties, hardships and trials of life, the obstacles... are positive blessings. They knit the muscles more firmly, and teach self-reliance.
opposites faithful luck
There is one curious fact noticeable in regard to this thing called "luck," which is, that while it is made responsible for any turn of affairs that we feel to be discreditable to us, it rarely has credit for an opposite state of things; but, like most other faithful allies in victory, comes poorly off.
dream agency sight
Stoutly as we may affirm that our disasters and vices are chargeable to luck, we never dream of ascribing our meritorious deeds, in the slightest degree to its agency. In such cases we quite unconsciously blink out of sight the magic power of the latter principle, so wondrous and all-controlling in its influence at other times, and coolly appropriate to ourselves not merely the lion's share, but the whole glory of our position.
forever contentment longing
With the "civilized" person contentment is a myth. From the cradle to the grave they are forever longing and striving after something better, an indefinable something, some new object yet unattained.
disappointment failure spirit
The same disappointments in life will chasten and refine one man's spirit, embitter another's.
criminals opportunist get-away
Criminals are opportunists. If you've got a booming market, they're going to get away with more fraud.
argument power-of-music ability
The power of music that poetry lacks is the ability to persuade without argument.