Quotes & anectdotes from the wise, the foolish, the courageous & the drunk

Matthew Arnold Author

  • Gender: Male
  • Citizenship: England
  • Born: Dec 24, 1822
  • Died: Apr 15, 1888

Matthew Arnold was an English poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator. Matthew Arnold has been characterised as a sage writer, a type of writer who chastises and instructs the reader on contemporary social issues.

To have the sense of creative activity is the great happiness and the great proof of being alive. happiness

Poetry is simply the most beautiful, impressive, and widely effective mode of saying things. poetry

The freethinking of one age is the common sense of the next. aging

Poetry a criticism of life under the conditions fixed for such a criticism by the laws of poetic truth and poetic beauty. beauty & poetry

Truth sits upon the lips of dying men. men

The true meaning of religion is thus, not simply morality, but morality touched by emotion. religion

Use your gifts faithfully, and they shall be enlarged practice what you know, and you shall attain to higher knowledge. knowledge

Sad Patience, too near neighbour to despair. patience & sadness

St. Patrick's Day March 17, 2025

There is no language like the Irish for soothing and quieting. 3 other views from John Millington Synge

3 other views from John Millington Synge

Being Irish, he had an abiding sense of tragedy, which sustained him through temporary periods of joy. 28 other quotes from William Butler Yeats

28 other quotes from William Butler Yeats

Geographically, Ireland is a medium-sized rural island that is slowly but steadily being consumed by sheep. 27 more quotes from Dave Barry

27 more quotes from Dave Barry

We have always found the Irish a bit odd. They refuse to be English. 74 other quotes from Winston Churchill

74 other quotes from Winston Churchill