James Stephens Quotes & Sayings (Page 2)

“A woman is a branchy tree and man a singing wind; and from her branches carelessly he takes what he can find.”

“The trouble of the king becomes the trouble of the subject, for how shall we live if judgement is withheld, or if faulty decisions are promulgated?”

“Under all wrongdoing lies personal vanity or the feeling that we are endowed and privileged beyond our fellows.”

“What the heart knows today the head will understand tomorrow.”

“In that wide struggle which we call Progress, evil is always the aggressor and the vanquished, and it is right that this should be so, for without its onslaughts and depredations humanity might fall to a fat slumber upon its cornsacks and die snoring.”

“The inexorable compulsion of all things is towards health or destruction, life or death, and we hasten our joys or our woes to the logical extreme. It is urgent, therefore, that we be joyous if we wish to live.”

“Man works outwardly and inwardly - after rest, he has energy; after energy, he needs repose; so, when we have given instruction for a time, we need instruction and must receive it, or the spirit faints and wisdom herself grows bitter.”

“Women and birds are able to see without turning their heads, and that is indeed a necessary provision for they are both surrounded by enemies.”

“Finality is death. Perfection is finality. Nothing is perfect. There are lumps in it.”

“A secret is a weapon and a friend.”