The Gothic cathedral is a blossoming in stone subdued by the insatiable demand of harmony in man. The mountain of granite blooms into an eternal flower, with the lightness and delicate finish, as well as the aerial proportions and perspective of vegetable beauty.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
They say the tongues of dying men enforce attention, like deep harmony: Where words are scarce, they’re seldom spent in vain
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations, the important thing is not to achieve but to strive.
—Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) American Ecologist, Conservationist
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Affirm divine calmness and peace, and send out only thoughts of love and goodwill if you want to live in peace and harmony. Never get angry, for anger poisons your system.
—Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) Indian Hindu Mystic, Religious Leader, Philosopher, Teacher
But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
In the dualism of death and life there is a harmony. We know that the life of a soul, which is finite in its expression and infinite in its principle, must go through the portals of death in its journey to realise the infinite. It is death which is monistic, it has no life in it. But life is dualistic; it has an appearance as well as truth; and death is that appearance, that maya, which is an inseparable companion to life.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm … to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore.
—Cyril Connolly (1903–74) British Literary Critic, Writer
Just as counterpoint and harmony follow their own laws, and differ in rhythm and movement, both formal tensions and color tensions have a development of their own in accordance with the inherent laws from which they are separately derived. Both, however, aim toward the realization of the same image. And both deal with the depth problem.
—Hans Hofmann (1880–1966) German-American Painter
Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well. There is nothing more potent than thought. Deed follows word and word follows thought. The word is the result of a mighty thought, and where the thought is mighty and pure the result is always mighty and pure.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Medicine, to produce health, has to examine disease; and music, to create harmony, must investigate discord.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
To seek, beneath the universal strife, the hidden harmony of things.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Harmony is one phase of the law whose spiritual expression is love.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Just as light brightens darkness, discovering inner fulfillment can eliminate any disorder or discomfort. This is truly the key to creating balance and harmony in everything you do.
—Deepak Chopra (b.1946) Indian-born American Physician, Public Speaker, Writer
Beauty is nothing else but a just accord and mutual harmony of the members, animated by a healthful constitution.
—John Dryden (1631–1700) English Poet, Literary Critic, Playwright
Harmony with nature will bring you a happiness known to few city dwellers. In the company of other truth seekers it will be easier for you to meditate and think of God.
—Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) Indian Hindu Mystic, Religious Leader, Philosopher, Teacher
A painting is a symbol for the universe. Inside it, each piece relates to the other. Each piece is only answerable to the rest of that little world. So, probably in the total universe, there is that kind of total harmony, but we get only little tastes of it.
—Corita Kent (1918–86) American Artist, Graphic Artist, Educator
Nature contains the elements, in colour and form, of all pictures, as the keyboard contains the notes of all music. But the artist is born to pick and choose… that the result may be beautiful—as the musician gathers his notes, and forms his chords, until he brings forth from chaos glorious harmony…
—James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) American Painter, Etcher
Music is an agreeable harmony for the honor of God and the permissible delights of the soul.
—Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) German Composer, Musician
Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
There is timing in the whole life of the warrior, in his thriving and declining, in his harmony and discord. Similarly, there is timing in the Way of the merchant, in the rise and fall of capital. All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this.
—Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645) Japanese Samurai Warrior, Artist
When they are done right, harmony appears by itself. The more numerous and varied they are, the more the effect is obtained and agreeable to the eye.
—Paul Cezanne (1839–1906) French Painter
The Three Rules of Work: 1. Out of clutter, find simplicity. 2. From discord, find harmony. 3. In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
One must marry one’s feelings to one’s beliefs and ideas. That is probably the only way to achieve a measure of harmony in one’s life.
—Etty Hillesum (1914–43) Jewish Diarist
What the discordant harmony of circumstances would and could effect.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
In art, and in the higher ranges of science, there is a feeling of harmony which underlies all endeavor. There is no true greatness in art or science without that sense of harmony.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The way of the Creative works through change and transformation, so that each thing receives its true nature and destiny and comes into permanent accord with the great harmony: this is what furthers and what perseveres.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet