The only true source of politeness is consideration.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Manners
To make punishments efficacious, two things are necessary; they must never be disproportioned to the offence, and they must be certain.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Punishment
The proverb answers where the sermon fails, as a well-charged pistol will do more execution than a whole barrel of gunpowder idly exploded in the air.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Quotations
Love is but another name for that inscrutable presence by which the soul is connected with humanity.
—William Gilmore Simms
We must not calculate on the weather, or on fortune, but upon God and ourselves.—He may fail us in the gratification of our wishes, but never in the encounter with our exigencies.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Self-reliance
It is said that he or she who admits the possession of a secret, has already half revealed it.—It is a great deal gained toward the acquisition of a treasure, to know exactly where it is.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Secrecy
He who would acquire fame must not show himself afraid of censure. The dread of censure is the death of genius.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Fame, Censorship
Vanity may be likened to the smooth-skinned and velvet-footed mouse, nibbling about forever in expectation of a crumb; while self-esteem is too apt to take the likeness of the huge butcher’s dog, who carries off your steaks, and growls at you as he goes.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Vanity
Most men remember obligations, but not often to be grateful; the proud are made sour by the remembrance and the vain silent.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Obligation
To feel oppressed by obligation is only to prove that we are incapable of a proper sentiment of gratitude.—To receive favors from the unworthy is to admit that our selfishness is superior to our pride.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Obligation
Genius may be described as the spirit of discovery.—It is the eye of intellect, and the wing of thought.—It is always in advance of its time—the pioneer for the generation which it precedes.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Genius
The guilt that feels not its own shame is wholly incurable.—It was the redeeming promise in the fault of Adam, that with the commission of his crime came the sense of his nakedness.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Guilt
This is the one quality, over all others, necessary to make a gentleman.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Politeness
No doubt solitude is wholesome, but so is abstinence after a surfeit.—The true life of man is in society.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Solitude
Strong passions are the life of manly virtues. But they need not necessarily be evil because they are passions, and because they are strong. They may be likened to blood horses, that need training and the curb only, to enable those whom they carry to achieve the most glorious triumphs.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Passion
Our cares are the mothers not only of our charities and virtues, but of our best joys, and most cheering and enduring pleasures.
—William Gilmore Simms
Tears are the natural penalties of pleasure. It is a law that we should pay for all that we enjoy.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Tears, Crying
Pleasure is one of those commodities which are sold at a thousand shops, and bought by a thousand customers, but of which nobody ever fairly finds possession. Either they know not well how to use, or the commodity will not keep, for no one has ever yet appeared to be satisfied with his bargain. It is too subtle for transition, though sufficiently solid for sale.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Pleasure
Our true acquisitions lie only in our charities, we gain only as we give.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Charity
The vulgar mind fancies that good judgment is implied chiefly in the capacity to censure; and yet there is no judgment so exquisite as that which knows property how to approve.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Judgment
Neither praise or blame is the object of true criticism. Justly to discriminate, firmly to establish, wisely to prescribe, and honestly to award. These are the true aims and duties of criticism.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Criticism, Critics
The dread of criticism is the death of genius.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Criticism, Critics
Revelation may not need the help of reason, but man does, even when in possession of revelation. Reason is the candle in the man’s hand which enables him to see what revelation is.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Reason
Have I done anything for society? I have then done more for myself. Let that truth be always present to thy mind, and work without cessation.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Mind, Usefullness, Truth
There is no doubt such a thing as chance; but I see no reason why Providence should not make use of it.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Chance
Stagnation is something worse than death: it is corruption also.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Idleness, Getting Going, Procrastination, Inaction
The temperate are the most truly luxurious. By abstaining from most things, it is surprising how many things we enjoy.
—William Gilmore Simms
Our distinctions do not lie in the places we occupy, but in the grace and dignity with which we fill them.
—William Gilmore Simms
Tact is one of the first mental virtues, the absence of which is often fatal to the best of talents; it supplies the place of many talents.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Tact
Justice is the great and simple principle which is the secret of success in all government, as essential to the training of an infant, as to the control of a mighty nation.
—William Gilmore Simms
Topics: Justice
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- Edgar Lee Masters American Poet, Novelist
- Emily Dickinson American Poet
- Gertrude Stein American Writer
- Theodore Roethke American Poet
- Edgar Allan Poe American Poet
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