Henry Taylor quotes

Henry Taylor was a British poet and dramatist, renowned for his play "Philip van Artevelde." His literary works were influential during the Victorian era. He is remembered for his thoughtful verse and contributions to English drama. Here are 34 of his quotes:

He who gives only what he would as readily throw away gives without generosity; for the essence of generosity is in self-sacrifice.

Henry Taylor

Conscience is, in most men, an anticipation of the opinions of others.

Henry Taylor

For no syren did ever so charm the ear of the listener, as the listening ear has charmed the soul of the syren.

Henry Taylor

Shy and proud men ... are more liable than any others to fall into the hands of parasites and creatures of low character. For in the intimacies which are formed by shy men, they do not choose, but are chosen.

Henry Taylor

The art of living easily as to money, is to pitch your scale of living one degree below your means.

Henry Taylor

Fear, indeed, is the mother of foresight...

Henry Taylor

The hope, and not the fact, of advancement, is the spur to industry.

Henry Taylor

Shy and unready men are great betrayers of secrets; for there are few wants more urgent for the moment than the want of something to say.

Henry Taylor

We figure to ourselves The thing we like; and then we build it up, As chance will have it, on the rock or sand,- For thought is tired of wandering o'er the world, And homebound Fancy runs her bark ashore.

Henry Taylor

Prodigality is indeed the vice of a weak nature, as avarice is of a strong one; it comes of a weak craving for those blandishments of the world which are easily to be had for money, and which, when obtained, are as much worse than worthless as a harlot's love is worse than none.

Henry Taylor

When you give, therefore, take to yourself no credit for generosity, unless you deny yourself something in order that you may give.

Henry Taylor

The philosophy which affects to teach us a contempt of money does not run very deep; for, indeed, it ought to be still more clear to the philosopher than it is to ordinary men, that there are few things in the world of greater importance.

Henry Taylor

Of all the uses of adversity which are sweet, none are sweeter than those which grow out of disappointed love...

Henry Taylor

His food Was glory, which was poison to his mind And peril to his body.

Henry Taylor

I have not skill From such a sharp and waspish word as "No" To pluck the sting.

Henry Taylor

In our judgment of men, we are to beware of giving any great importance to occasional acts. By acts of occasional virtue weak men endeavour to redeem themselves in their own estimation, vain men to exalt themselves in that of mankind.

Henry Taylor

Good nature and kindness towards those with whom they come in personal contact, at the expense of public interests, that is of those whom they never see, is the besetting sin of public men.

Henry Taylor

There are few things more important in the business of the state, than that the results of inquiry and research should be realised by those who have had the conduct of it.

Henry Taylor

Where there are large powers with little ambition (which will happen sometimes, though seldom) nature may be said to have fallen short of her purposes; for she has given the machinery without the vis motrix.

Henry Taylor

Considering the temptations under which politicians are placed, of changing their opinions, or rather their professions of opinion, from motives of self interest, the world will not give them credit for motives of honest conviction, unless when the change shall be to their manifest loss and disadvantage.

Henry Taylor

He that lacks time to mourn, lacks time to mend. Eternity mourns that. 'Tis an ill cure For life's worst ills, to have no time to feel them. Where sorrow 's held intrusive and turned out, There wisdom will not enter, nor true power, Nor aught that dignifies humanity.

Henry Taylor

In a statesman's transactions there are many things which cannot be communicated otherwise than by manner without inconvenient commitment or controversy; and that will be the most serviceable manner which can be expressive or inexpressive at pleasure, and be used as a dark lantern to his meanings.

Henry Taylor