113 Quotes By Thomas Carlyle


The real use of gunpowder is to make all men tall.
Thomas Carlyle on men

It were a real increase of human happiness, could all young men from the age of nineteen be covered under barrels, or rendered otherwise invisible and there left to follow their lawful studies and callings, till they emerged, sadder and wiser, at the age of twenty-five.
Thomas Carlyle on men

Men do less than they ought, unless they do all that they can.
Thomas Carlyle on men

There is a great discovery still to be made in literature, that of paying literary men by the quantity they do not write.
Thomas Carlyle on men

To reform a world, to reform a nation, no wise man will undertake and all but foolish men know, that the only solid, though a far slower reformation, is what each begins and perfects on himself.
Thomas Carlyle on men

No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness than disbelief in great men.
Thomas Carlyle on men

If you look deep enough you will see music the heart of nature being everywhere music.
Thomas Carlyle on music

Music is well said to be the speech of angels.
Thomas Carlyle on music

Every day that is born into the world comes like a burst of music and rings the whole day through, and you make of it a dance, a dirge, or a life march, as you will.
Thomas Carlyle on music

If you look deep enough you will see music the heart of nature being everywhere music.
Thomas Carlyle on nature

Endurance is patience concentrated.
Thomas Carlyle on patience

It is a vain hope to make people happy by politics.
Thomas Carlyle on politics

The eye sees what it brings the power to see.
Thomas Carlyle on power

Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance - the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen.
Thomas Carlyle on power

Wonder is the basis of worship.
Thomas Carlyle on religion

The three great elements of modern civilization, Gun powder, Printing, and the Protestant religion.
Thomas Carlyle on religion

Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance - the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen.
Thomas Carlyle on sad

Science must have originated in the feeling that something was wrong.
Thomas Carlyle on science

This world, after all our science and sciences, is still a miracle wonderful, inscrutable, magical and more, to whosoever will think of it.
Thomas Carlyle on science

Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance - the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen.
Thomas Carlyle on strength