Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Charles Mackay (Scottish Poet, Journalist)

Charles Mackay (1814–89) was a Scottish poet, journalist, author, anthologist, novelist, and songwriter. Mackay was best known in his day for his verses, some of which were set to music. Today, he is remembered chiefly for his book Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions (1841; 2-volume edition, 1852.)

Born in Perth, Scotland, Mackay had a degree of LLD from the University of Glasgow. He briefly lived in the Belgian city of Liège and began writing in French in the Courrier Belge, and sent English poems to a local newspaper called The Telegraph.

Returning to London, Mackay became a contributor to The Sun and an assistant sub-editor of The Morning Chronicle. He later edited the Glasgow Argus and The Illustrated London News. Visiting North America in the 1850s, Mackay published his observations in Life and Liberty in America: or Sketches of a Tour (1859.)

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Every man’s experience of today, is that he was a fool yesterday and the day before yesterday.—Tomorrow he will most likely be of exactly the same opinion.
Charles Mackay
Topics: Experience

There is no such thing as death. In nature nothing dies. From each sad remnant of decay, some forms of life arise so shall his life be taken away before he knoweth that he hath it.
Charles Mackay
Topics: Dying, Death

The smallest effort is not lost,
Each wavelet on the ocean tost
Aids in the ebb-tide or the flow;
Each rain-drop makes some floweret blow;
Each struggle lessens human woe.
Charles Mackay
Topics: One Step at a Time, Effort

Water is the mother of the vine, The nurse and fountain of fecundity, The adorner and refresher of the world.
Charles Mackay
Topics: Water

Every age has its peculiar folly: Some scheme, project, or fantasy into which it plunges, spurred on by the love of gain, the necessity of excitement, or the force of imitation.
Charles Mackay

Thou shalt not rob me, thievish Time,
Of all my blessings or my joy;
I have some jewels in my heart
Which thou are powerless to destroy.
Charles Mackay
Topics: Time Management

An arrow may fly through the air and leave no trace; but an ill thought leaves a trail like a serpent.
Charles Mackay
Topics: Thinking, Thought, Thoughts

You have no enemies, you say?
Alas, my friend, the boast is poor.
He who has mingled in the fray of duty
that the brave endure, must have made foes.
If you have none, small is the work that you have done.
You’ve hit no traitor on the hip.
You’ve dashed no cup from perjured lip.
You’ve never turned the wrong to right.
You’ve been a coward in the fight.
Charles Mackay

The old thoughts never die; immortal dreams outlive their dreamers and are ours for aye; no thought once formed and uttered ever can expire.
Charles Mackay
Topics: Thought

Under the leaves, amid the grass, lazily the day shall pass, yet not be wasted.—From my drowsy ease I borrow health and strength to bear my boat through the great life ocean.
Charles Mackay
Topics: Holidays

During seasons of great pestilence, men have often believed the prophecies of crazed fanatics, that the end of the world was come.
Charles Mackay

Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one.
Charles Mackay
Topics: Life

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