George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (1788–1824,) known as Lord Byron, was an English poet. He not only was English literature’s first celebrity superstar but also gained notoriety for his many love affairs.
Byron was born in London. His clubfoot had a significant effect on his future disposition. He spent his early years in Aberdeen and was educated at Cambridge. He took an expedition to Portugal, Spain, Albania, Greece, and Constantinople. The striking scenery and the exotic cultures that he experienced on this tour formed the basis for the first two cantos of Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage (1809,) which made him famous overnight. Facing mounting pressure because of his failed marriage, infamous (and incestuous) relationships, and huge debts, Byron left England in 1816 and never returned.
In 1819, while staying in Venice, Byron wrote some of his most celebrated works, including Don Juan (1819–24.) In 1823, he left Italy to join the Greek revolutionaries in their fight for independence against the Ottoman Empire. He caught marsh fever and died at Missolonghi in 1824.
Byron’s poetry was prevalent despite being widely criticized for moral reasons. Much of his poetry and drama exerted considerable influence on the Romantic Movement. His legacy of inspiration in European poetry, music, the novel, opera, and painting, has been colossal.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
They say that knowledge is power. I used to think so, but I now know that they meant money. Every guinea is a philosopher’s stone.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Money
Every day confirms my opinion on the superiority of a vicious life—and if Virtue is not its own reward I don’t know any other stipend annexed to it.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Vice, Virtue
Satiety comes of riches, and contumaciousness of satiety.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Riches
There is no future pang can deal that justice on the self-condemned, he deals on his own soul.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Conscience, Remorse, Punishment
There’s nothing in the world like etiquette In kingly chambers, or imperial halls, As also at the race and county balls.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
I swims in the Tagus all across at once, and I rides on an ass or a mule, and swears Portuguese, and have got a diarrhea and bites from the mosquitoes. But what of that? Comfort must not be expected by folks that go a pleasuring.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Tourism, Travel
In solitude, where we are least alone.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: One liners, Solitude
Let no man be called happy before his death. Till then, he is not happy, only lucky.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Happiness
Most men, until by losing rendered sager, will back their opinions by a wager.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Opinions
Constancy… that small change of love, which people exact so rigidly, receive in such counterfeit coin, and repay in baser metal.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Marriage
Here lies interred in the eternity of the past, from whence there is no resurrection for the days—whatever there may be for the dust—the thirty-third year of an ill-spent life, which, after a lingering disease of many months sank into a lethargy, and expired, January 22d, 1821, A.D. leaving a successor inconsolable for the very loss which occasioned its existence.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Birthdays
Tyranny is far the worst of treasons.—The prince who neglects or violates his trust is more a brigand than the robber-chief.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Tyranny
Yet, Freedom! yet thy banner, torn, but flying, streams like the thunderstorm against the wind.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Freedom
I have had, and may have still, a thousand friends, as they are called, in life, who are like one’s partners in the waltz of this world—not much remembered when the ball is over.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Friendship
Here’s a sigh to those who love me,
And a smile to those who hate;
And, whatever sky’s above me,
Here’s a heart for every fate.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Blessings
Though sages may pour out their wisdom’s treasure, there is no sterner moralist than pleasure.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Morality, Pleasure, Morals
Keep thy smooth words and juggling homilies for those who know thee not.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Hypocrisy
Man is born passionate of body, but with an innate though secret tendency to the love of Good in his main-spring of Mind. But God help us all! It is at present a sad jar of atoms.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Humankind, Humanity
Posterity will never survey a nobler grave than this: here lie the bones of Castlereagh: stop, traveler, and piss.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Epitaphs
That low vice, curiosity!
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Curiosity
Grief should be the instructor of the wise: sorrow is knowledge; they who know the most must mourn the deepest o’er the fatal truth,—the tree of knowledge is not that of life.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Sadness, Sorrow
Folly loves the martyrdom of fame.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Fame
Solitude has but one disadvantage; it is apt to give one too high an opinion of one’s self. In the world we are sure to be often reminded of every known or supposed defect we may have.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Solitude
To what gulfs
A single deviation from the track
Of human duties leads even those who claim
The homage of mankind as their born due,
And find it, till they forfeit it themselves!
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Guilt, Duty
The fact is that my wife if she had common sense would have more power over me than any other whatsoever, for my heart always alights upon the nearest perch.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Wives, Marriage
I awoke one morning and found myself famous.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Morning, Fame
No hand can make the clock strike for me the hours that are passed.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Past
My great comfort is, that the temporary celebrity I have wrung from the world has been in the very teeth of all opinions and prejudices. I have flattered no ruling powers; I have never concealed a single thought that tempted me.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Fame
They never fail who die in a great cause.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Sacrifice, Failure, Success & Failure
Night wanes; the vapors round the mountains curled, melt into morn, and light awakes the world.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)
Topics: Morning
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