Martin Farquhar Tupper Quotes

Naples sitteth by the sea, keystone of an arch of azure.

Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.

Let the misanthrope shun men and abjure; the most are rather lovable than hateful.

A babe in the house is a well-spring of pleasure, a messenger of peace and love, a resting place for innocence on earth, a link between angels and men.

God, from a beautiful necessity, is Love.

Ridicule is a weak weapon when pointed at a strong mind; but common people are cowards and dread an empty laugh.

Search out the wisdom of nature, there is depth in all her doings; she seemeth prodigal of power, yet her rules are the maxims of frugality.

To despond is to lie ungrateful beforehand. Be not looking for evil. Often thou drainest the gall of fear while evil is passing by thy dwelling.

Confidence is conqueror of men; victorious both over them and in them; The iron will of one stout heart shall make a thousand quail; A feeble dwarf, dauntlessly resolved, will turn the tide of battle, And rally to a nobler strife the giants that had fled.

Error is a hardy plant; it flourisheth in every soil; In the heart of the wise and good, alike with the wicked and foolish; For there is no error so crooked, but it hath in it some lines of truth.

A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever.

A spark is a little thing, yet it may kindle the world.

Deep is the sea, and deep is hell, but pride mineth deeper; it is coiled as a poisonous worm about the foundations of the soul.

In a dream thou mayst live a lifetime, and all be forgotten in the morning: Even such is life, and so soon perisheth its memory.

He that is ambitious for his son, should give him untried names, For those have serv'd other men, haply may injure by their evils; Or otherwise may hinder by their glories; therefore set him by himself, To win for his individual name some clear praise.

True wisdom, laboring to expound, heareth others readily; False wisdom, sturdy to deny, closeth up her mind to argument.

He who does not tire, tires adversity.

If the mind is wearied by study, or the body worn with sickness, It is well to lie fallow for a while, in the vacancy of sheer amusement; But when thou prosprest in health, and thine intellect can soar untired, To seek uninstructive pleasure is to slumber on the couch of indolence.

Hatred is the atmosphere of hell.

Love, a brilliant fire, to gladden or consume.

Alike to the slave and his oppressor cometh night with sweet refreshment, and half of the life of the most wretched is gladdened by the soothings of sleep.

A juggler's skill hath been long years alearning.

Life is as the current spark on the miner's wheel of flints; While it spinneth, there is light; stop it, all is darkness.

Men scanning the surface count the wicked happy; they see not the frightful dreams that crowd a bad man's pillow.

Pain adds rest unto pleasure, and teaches the luxury of health.

If thou art master to thyself, circumstances shall harm thee little.

A man too careful of danger liveth in continual torment, But a cheerful expecter of the best hath a fountain of joy within him.

Lies can destroy, but not create.

Extravagance is the rich man's pitfall.

Labour is good for a man, bracing up his energies to conquest, And without it life is dull, the man perceiving himself useless.

Blunted unto goodness is the heart which anger never stirreth, but that which hatred swelleth, is keen to carve out evil.

Thought paceth like a hoary sage, but imagination hath wings as an eagle.

Lay not the plummet to the line; religion hath no landmarks; no human keenness can discern the subtle shades of faith.

Betray mean terror of ridicule, thou shalt find fools enough to mock thee; but answer thou their language with contempt, and the scoffers will lick thy feet.

Error is a hardy plant; it flourishes in every soil.

Deceit and treachery skulk with hatred, but an honest spirit flieth with anger.

Humility mainly becometh the converse of man with his Maker.

It is the cringer to his equal that is chiefly seen bold to his God.

Praise a fool, and slay him; for the canvas of his vanity is spread; His bark is shallow in the water, and a sudden gust shall sink it: Praise a wise man, and speed him on his way; for he carrieth the ballast of humility, And is glad when his course is cheered by the sympathy of brethren ashore.

It is well to lie fallow for a while.

O Death, what are thou? nurse of dreamless slumbers freshening the fevered flesh to a wakefulness eternal.

Faith may rise into miracles of might, as some few wise men have shown; faith may sink into credulities of weakness, as the mass of fools have witnessed.

A man looketh on his little one as a being of better hope; in himself ambition is dead, but it bath a resurrection in his son.

There is a limit to enjoyment, though the sources of wealth be boundlessAnd the choicest pleasures of life lie within the ring of moderation.

A babe in a house is a well-spring of pleasure.

Anger is a noble infirmity; the generous failing of the just; the one degree that riseth above zeal, asserting the prerogative of virtue.

As frost to the bud, and blight to the blossom, even such is self-interest to friendship; for confidence cannot dwell where selfishness is porter at the gate.

Clamorous pauperism feastest While honest Labor, pining, hideth his sharp ribs.

A spark is a molecule of matter, yet may it kindle the world; vast is the mighty ocean, but drops have made it vast. Despise not thou small things, either for evil or for good; for a look may work thy ruin, or a word create thy wealth.

Solitude delighteth well to feed on many thoughts; There as thou sittest peaceful, communing with fancy, The precious poetry of life shall gild its leaden cares; There, as thou walkest by the sea beneath the gentle stars, Many kindling seeds of good will sprout within thy soul; Thou shalt weep in Solitude,--thou shalt pray in Solitude. Thou shalt sing for joy of heart, and praise the grace of Solitude.