Alfred the Great Quotes

The saddest thing about any man is that he be ignorant, and the most exciting thing is that he knows.

For in prosperity a man is often puffed up with pride, whereas tribulations chasten and humble him through suffering and sorrow. In the midst of prosperity the mind is elated, and in prosperity a man forgets himself; in hardship he is forced to reflect on himself, even though he be unwilling. In prosperity a man often destroys the good he has done; amidst difficulties he often repairs what he long since did in the way of wickedness.

I desire to leave to the men that come after me a remembrance of me in good works.

For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see, Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be; Saw the heavens fill with commerce, Argosies of magic sails, Pilots of the purple twilight, dropping down with costly bales; Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew, From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue.

Ah, what shall I be at fifty, should nature keep me alive, if I find the world so bitter when I am but twenty-five?

One God, one law, one element, And one far-off divine event, To which the whole creation moves.

For man is man and master of his fate.

Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good. Ring out old shapes of foul disease; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace.

All the youth now in England of free men, who are rich enough to be able to devote themselves to it, be set to learn as long as they are not fit for any other occupation, until they are able to read English writing well.

I am a part of all whom I have met.

Science moves, but slowly, slowly, creeping on from point to point.

The greater the man the greater the courtesy.

He promoted the education of the parish clergy and wrote: He seems to me a very foolish man, and very wretched, who will not increase his understanding while he is in the world, and ever wish and long to reach that endless life where all shall be made clear.

It becomes no man to nurse despair, but, in the teeth of clenched antagonisms, to follow up the worthiest till he die.

O hard, when love and duty clash!

I embrace the purpose of God and the doom assigned.

The vow that binds too quickly snaps itself.

Doom very evenly! Do not doom one doom to the rich; another to the poor! Nor doom one doom to your friend; another to your foe!

Ah, why should life all labor be?

Food over flame burns, food over heat cooks

Time [is] flowing in the middle of the night.

All things have rest: why should we toil alone, We only toil, who are the first of things.

...For the unquiet heart and brain, A use in measured language lies.

When the Sun Clearest shineth Serenest in the heaven, Quickly are obscured All over the earth Other stars.

A life that moves to gracious ends Thro' troops of unrecording friends, A deedful life, a silent voice.

The Christmas bells from hill to hill Answer each other in the mist.