Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by William Lyon Phelps (American Scholar)

William Lyon Phelps (1865–1943) was an American author, critic, and professor of English literature. His efforts significantly contributed to the popularization of the teaching of modern literature.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Phelps attended Yale University (B.A., 1887; PhD, 1891) and Harvard University (M.A., 1891.) After teaching for one year at Harvard, he returned to teach at Yale’s English department for over four decades. In 1895, he taught the first American college course in the modern novel. In his courses and his Essays on Russian Novelists (1911,) Phelps was influential in introducing Russian novelists to American readers.

Phelps was a popular lecturer and prolific writer, publishing numerous books and essays on literature and culture, and was also a well-known lecturer and public speaker. Phelps was a proponent of the liberal arts and believed studying literature and the humanities was essential to a well-rounded education. He was a popular and influential figure in his time, known for his engaging teaching style and ability to make literature accessible to a broad audience. His most famous lecture, “The Pleasure of Books,” was delivered over 400 times and became a staple of college curriculums.

Phelps also had a radio show. His literary essays appeared in Scribner’s Magazine and other periodicals, and his syndicated newspaper column, A Daily Thought, brought him an audience estimated in the millions. His famous works include Essays on Modern Novelists (1910,) The Advance of the English Novel (1916,) and The Beginnings of the English Romantic Movement (1893.) His Autobiography with Letters was published in 1939.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by William Lyon Phelps

One of the secrets of life is to keep our intellectual curiosity acute.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Curiosity

The principle of happiness should be like the principle of virtue: it should not be dependent of things, but be a part of personality (and character).
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Happiness

The Gateway to Christianity is not through an intricate labyrinth of dogma, but by a simple belief in the person of Christ.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Belief, Christianity

Life, with all its sorrows, cares, perplexities and heartbreaks, is more interesting than bovine placidity, hence more desirable. The more interesting it is, the happier it is.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Sorrow

Why is it that so many people are afraid to admit they are happy?
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Happiness

The fear of life is the favorite disease of the 20th century.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Fear, Life, Anxiety

I believe a knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more valuable than a college course without a Bible.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Bible

A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view halfway up is better than the view from the base, and it steadily becomes finer as the horizon expands.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Life

Unlimited power is worse for the average person than unlimited alcohol; and the resulting intoxication is more damaging for others. Very few have not deteriorated when given absolute dominion. It is worse for the governor than for the governed.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Power

I do not know how wicked American millionaires are, but as I travel about and see the results of their generosity in the form of hospitals, churches, public libraries, universities, parks, recreation grounds, art museums and theatres I wonder what on earth we should do without them.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Philanthropy

Being educated means to prefer the best not only to the worst but to the second best.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Education

No one should make a statement like “youth is the happiest time of life” without being prepared to accept its intellectual consequences.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Youth

If happiness truly consisted in physical ease and freedom from care, then the happiest individual would not be either a man or a woman; it would be, I think, an American cow.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Joy, Happiness

A student never forgets an encouraging private word, when it is given with sincere respect and admiration.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Admiration, Hope

The belief that youth is the happiest time of life is founded on a fallacy. The happiest person is the person who thinks the most interesting thoughts and we grow happier as we grow older.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Aging, Happiness, Joy

I am glad my ancestors arrived on the Mayflower, but I am gladder that there are nine generations between us.
—William Lyon Phelps

This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Respect

I divide all readers into two classes: those who read to remember and those who read to forget.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Books, Reading

At a certain age some people’s minds close up; they live on their intellectual fat.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Thinking

A cat pours his body on the floor like water.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Cats

Whenever it is possible, a boy should choose some occupation which he should do even if he did not need the money.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Abilities, Work, Talents

If I were running the world I would have it rain only between 2 and 5 a.m. Anyone who was out then ought to get wet.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Rain

God speaks to me not through the thunder and the earthquake, nor through the ocean and the stars, but through the Son of Man, and speaks in a language adapted to my imperfect sight and hearing.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Christianity

There is a strange reluctance on the part of most people to admit that they enjoy life.
—William Lyon Phelps

The highest happiness on earth is marriage.
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Marriage

One appreciates that daily life is really good when one wakes from a horrible dream, or when one takes the first outing after a sickness. Why not realize it now?
—William Lyon Phelps
Topics: Appreciation, Gratitude, Blessings

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