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
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
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
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
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
To paint is not to copy the object slavishly, it is to grasp a harmony among many relationships.
—Paul Cezanne (1839–1906) French Painter
Harmony of colouring is destructive of art—it is like the smile of a fool.
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
A life in harmony with nature, the love of truth and virtue, will purge the eyes to understanding her text.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
He who lives in harmony with himself lives in harmony with the universe.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
The sign for which I forge an image has no value if it doesn’t harmonize with other signs, which I must determine in the course of my invention and which are completely peculiar to it.
—Henri Matisse (1869–1954) French Painter, Sculptor, Lithographer
There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!
—Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792–1822) English Poet, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist
Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Disease is an experience of mortal mind. It is fear made manifest on the body. Divine Science takes away this physical sense of discord, just as it removes a sense of moral or mental in-harmony.
—Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910) American Christian Science Religious Leader, Humanitarian, Writer
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
What the discordant harmony of circumstances would and could effect.
—Horace (Quintus Horatius Flaccus) (65–8 BCE) Roman Poet
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
Grant that I may become beautiful in my soul within, and that all my external possessions may be in harmony with my inner self. May I consider the wise to be rich, and may I have such riches as only a person of self-restraint can bear or endure
—Plato (428 BCE–347 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher, Mathematician, Educator
Opposition brings concord. Out of discord comes the fairest harmony.
—Heraclitus (535BCE–475BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Life’s errors cry for the merciful beauty that can modulate their isolation into a harmony with the whole.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
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
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
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) Dutch Diarist, Holocaust Victim
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
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
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
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
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 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
Ideally, advertising aims at the goal of a programmed harmony among all human impulses and aspirations and endeavors. Using handicraft methods, it stretches out toward the ultimate electronic goal of a collective consciousness.
—Marshall Mcluhan (1911–80) Canadian Writer, Thinker, Educator
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
My temper leads me to peace and harmony with all men; and it is peculiarly my wish to avoid any personal feuds or dissensions with those, who are embarked in the same great national interest with myself, as every difference of this kind in its consequence must be very injurious.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
Harmony with the land is like harmony with a friend. You cannot cherish his right hand and chop off his left. That is to say you cannot have game and hate predators. The land is one organism.
—Aldo Leopold (1887–1948) American Ecologist, Conservationist
Then, there’s the modern mother-in-law. In her mid 40s, she is the compact car of her breed: efficient, trim, attractive and in harmony with her times. She’s pretty stiff competition for the plain young matron who’s overweight and under-financed. If there is going to be friction in this relationship, it could start from envy and resentment in the younger woman. But Father Time is on her side, even if Mother Nature played her a dirty trick
—Pauline Phillips (Abigail van Buren) (b.1918) American Columnist
Harmony is pure love, for love is complete agreement.
—Lope de Vega (1562–1635) Spanish Playwright, Poet
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
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.
—George Washington (1732–99) American Head of State, Military Leader
All that is not useful in a picture is detrimental. A work of art must be harmonious in its entirety; for superfluous details would, in the mind of the beholder, encroach upon the essential elements.
—Henri Matisse (1869–1954) French Painter, Sculptor, Lithographer
Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe.
—Anatole France (1844–1924) French Novelist
Harmony is one phase of the law whose spiritual expression is love.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
To seek, beneath the universal strife, the hidden harmony of things.
—William C. Durant (1861–1947) American Industrialist
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
Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
I have learned by some experience, by many examples, and by the writings of countless others before me, also occupied in the search, that certain environments, certain modes of life, certain rules of conduct are more conducive to inner and outer harmony than others. There are, in fact, certain roads that one may follow. Simplification of life is one of them.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
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
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
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
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
Sure there is music even in the beauty, and the silent note which Cupid strikes, far sweeter than the sound of an instrument. For there is music where ever there is a harmony, order, or proportion: and thus far we may maintain the music of the spheres.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
Everything harmonizes with me, which is harmonious to thee, o Universe. Nothing for me is too early or too late, which is in due time for thee.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher