Samuel Smiles on culture
Samuel Smiles118 quotes“The highest culture is not obtained from the teacher when at school or college, so much as by our ever diligent self-education when we become men.”
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More from Samuel Smiles
Luck lies in bed, and wishes the postman would bring him news of a legacy; labor turns out at six, and with busy pen or ringing hammer lays the foundation of a competence.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. But all play and no work makes him something worse.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles Biographies of great, but especially of good men are most instructive and useful as helps, guides, and incentives to others. Some of the best are almost equivalent to gospels,–teaching high living ,high thinking, and energetic action, for their own and, the world’s good.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles It is energy – the central element of which is will – that produces the miracle that is enthusiasm in all ages. Everywhere it is what is called force of character and the sustaining power of all great action.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles It is the close observation of little things which is the secret of success in business, in art, in science, and in every pursuit of life.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles The government of a nation itself is usually found to be but the reflux of the individuals composing it. The government that is ahead of the people will be inevitably dragged down to their level, as the government that is behind them will in the long run be dragged up.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles Commit a child to the care of a worthless, ignorant woman, and no culture in after-life will remedy the evil you have done.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles Wisdom and understanding can only become the possession of individual men by travelling the old road of observation, attention, perseverance, and industry.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles The battle of life is, in most cases, fought uphill; and to win it without a struggle were perhaps to win it without honor. If there were no difficulties there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles The work of many of the greatest men, inspired by duty, has been done amidst suffering and trial and difficulty. They have struggled against the tide, and reached the shore exhausted.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles Fortune has often been blamed for her blindness; but fortune is not so blind as men are. Those who look into practical life will find that fortune is usually on the side of the industrious, as the winds and waves are on the side of the best navigators.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles Politeness goes far, yet costs nothing.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles Obedience, submission, discipline, courage–these are among the characteristics which make a man.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles Labor is still, and ever will be, the inevitable price set upon everything which is valuable.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles The duty of helping one’s self in the highest sense involves the helping of one’s neighbors.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles Self-respect is the noblest garment with which a man can clothe himself, the most elevating feeling with which the mind can be inspired.
Samuel SmilesSamuel Smiles
Original quotes
From our community writers
Someone rejected you does not mean you are not worthy. Maybe they can’t afford to be with you.
Jacklyn TysonJacklyn Tyson I will love you from afar it’s better this way because close up it hurts too much.
Melissa AndersonMelissa Anderson Maybe if you hold me tight, our love won’t be as shallow.
Mira R. AridiMira R. Aridi Sometimes a person is in peace & in the piece at the same time.
Jessica CollinsJessica Collins Between day and night there was a moment of silence.
Frode GaslandFrode Gasland But doesn’t it hurt to feel so much and pretend not to?
Brad NeatonBrad Neaton Admire your sweet way of glowing; your passionate way of flowing.
Ana SoulfulAna Soulful Darling, you are a warrior, for even though each day feels like a battle, you keep fighting and live on.
Sarah ShawkatSarah Shawkat
Meet the writers
More on culture
Culture is properly described as the love of perfection; it is a study of perfection.
Matthew ArnoldMatthew Arnold If an historian be an unbeliever in all heroism, if he be a man who brings every thing down to the level of a common mediocrity, depend upon it, the truth is not found in such a writer.
Matthew ArnoldMatthew Arnold Commercial rock ‘n’ roll music is a brutalization of the stream of contemporary Negro church music an obscene looting of a cultural expression.
Ralph EllisonRalph Ellison I think that we need to change the culture, not blame the people that are playing the only game that exists.
Gloria SteinemGloria Steinem In Eastern culture, people see ghosts, people talk about ghosts, it’s just accepted. And in Western culture it’s just not.
Jessica AlbaJessica Alba I think it was that we were really seasoned musicians. We had serious roots that spanned different cultures, obviously the blues.
Jimmy PageJimmy Page The frenzy of the little-girl culture is something very unique, and I can only say that because I was one. The obsession – I can’t really explain it. Everything is heightened to the maximum.
Nikki ReedNikki Reed The origins of violence against women by men are not biological. If that were the case, it would exist in every culture. And it doesn’t exist in every culture.
Gloria SteinemGloria Steinem
