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George Henry Lewes Quotes

Powerful George Henry Lewes for Daily Growth

About George Henry Lewes

George Henry Lewes, born Charles Gascoigne (1817-1878), was an English philosopher, social reformer, and literary critic, who was instrumental in promoting the ideas of German philosophy during the Victorian era. He was known for his independent spirit and unconventional personal life. Born on June 10, 1817, in Nottingham, England, Lewes grew up in a middle-class family with little financial means. Despite this, he managed to gain entry into the University of London at age 16, where he studied mathematics and physics. However, his true passion lay in literature and philosophy. Lewes's intellectual journey began when he started contributing to various journals under the pseudonym "Orion." His first major work, "Problems of Life and Mind," published in 1854, was a groundbreaking exploration of psychology, metaphysics, and ethics. The book reflected his belief in the interconnectedness of all aspects of human existence. In 1856, Lewes started a lifelong relationship with Victorian novelist George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans). Despite not being married, they lived together openly, which was highly unconventional for the time. Their intellectual partnership greatly influenced each other's work. Lewes continued to publish significant works, including "The Physiology of Common Life" and "A New System of Ethics: Founded on a Prior Analysis of the Nature and Origin of the Moral Sensations." Lewes passed away on November 9, 1878, leaving behind a rich legacy of thought-provoking works that continue to influence philosophical discourse today. His life and work exemplify the power of independent thinking and the courage to challenge societal norms.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"What we learn with pleasure we never forget."

This quote underscores the power of learning through enjoyment, suggesting that knowledge gained in a pleasurable context is deeply ingrained and lasts throughout one's life. It implies that the process of learning should be enjoyable, engaging, and self-motivated for it to result in long-lasting retention and understanding.

"Truth is the offspring of silence and patience."

George Henry Lewes' quote, "Truth is the offspring of silence and patience," suggests that the pursuit of truth requires quiet contemplation and perseverance in the face of uncertainty or confusion. It implies that to uncover the underlying reality of a situation or idea, one must be patient, avoiding hasty judgments or impulsive reactions, and instead allowing time for reflection and analysis. In essence, the quote encourages us to cultivate patience as an essential tool for discerning truth.

"The greatest happiness you can have is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness."

This quote by George Henry Lewes suggests that true contentment lies in understanding and accepting that one's overall well-being, and life satisfaction, are not solely dependent on momentary feelings of happiness. Instead, it emphasizes the importance of finding fulfillment and purpose in various aspects of life, even amidst difficulties or hardships. It underscores a resilient mindset, which allows individuals to appreciate their lives as a whole, rather than fixating on transient emotional states.

"Those who cannot accept the idea that life is a succession of moments, each one unique, seek to cling to the past or project themselves into the future, and so they lose both."

This quote by George Henry Lewes underscores the importance of fully embracing and appreciating the present moment as it is fleeting and unique, rather than dwelling on the past or anticipating the future excessively. By focusing on the past or the future, individuals risk missing out on the richness and opportunities that each new moment brings, ultimately leading to a diminished quality of life. Instead, by accepting and cherishing each moment as it comes, one can fully experience and gain the most from life.

"The only way to avoid being miserable is not to have sufficient leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not."

George Henry Lewes suggests that constant introspection and questioning one's happiness can lead to misery, as it shifts focus from enjoying the present moment to contemplating emotional states. In other words, if one has enough leisure (time and opportunities) to question their happiness, they may find themselves constantly unsatisfied due to the inherent comparison with an imagined ideal or the pursuit of perpetual contentment. Instead, finding joy in daily life experiences can be more fulfilling than the endless quest for happiness.

It is unhappily true that much insincere Literature and Art, executed solely with a view to effect, does succeed by deceiving the public.

- George Henry Lewes

Art, Deceiving, Executed, Insincere

Many a genius has been slow of growth. Oaks that flourish for a thousand years do not spring up into beauty like a reed.

- George Henry Lewes

Beauty, Been, Thousand Years, Reed

Insincerity is always weakness; sincerity even in error is strength.

- George Henry Lewes

Strength, Weakness, Always, Error

The true function of philosophy is to educate us in the principles of reasoning and not to put an end to further reasoning by the introduction of fixed conclusions.

- George Henry Lewes

Philosophy, Reasoning, Put, Conclusions

When a man fails to see the truth of certain generally accepted views, there is no law compelling him to provoke animosity by announcing his dissent.

- George Henry Lewes

Law, Dissent, Compelling, No Law

Books have become our dearest companions, yielding exquisite delights and inspiring lofty aims.

- George Henry Lewes

Books, Dearest, Delights, Yielding

We must never assume that which is incapable of proof.

- George Henry Lewes

Never, Must, Which, Incapable

Ordinary men live among marvels and feel no wonder, grow familiar with objects and learn nothing new about them.

- George Henry Lewes

Grow, New, No Wonder, Ordinary Men

All bad Literature rests upon imperfect insight, or upon imitation, which may be defined as seeing at second-hand.

- George Henry Lewes

Bad, May, Which, Defined

Endeavour to be faithful, and if there is any beauty in your thought, your style will be beautiful; if there is any real emotion to express, the expression will be moving.

- George Henry Lewes

Beauty, Thought, Expression, Endeavour

Books minister to our knowledge, to our guidance, and to our delight, by their truth, their uprightness, and their art.

- George Henry Lewes

Truth, Art, Books, Delight

All great authors are seers.

- George Henry Lewes

Great, Authors

The delusions of self-love cannot be prevented, but intellectual misconceptions as to the means of achieving success may be corrected.

- George Henry Lewes

Achieving, Self-Love, Means, Misconceptions

No man was ever eloquent by trying to be eloquent, but only by being so.

- George Henry Lewes

Trying, Only, Ever, Eloquent

The only cure for grief is action.

- George Henry Lewes

Sympathy, Action, Only, Grief

Philosophy and Art both render the invisible visible by imagination.

- George Henry Lewes

Art, Invisible, Visible, Render

The object of Literature is to instruct, to animate, or to amuse.

- George Henry Lewes

Literature, Amuse, Animate, Object

Originality is independence, not rebellion; it is sincerity, not antagonism.

- George Henry Lewes

Independence, Rebellion, Sincerity

Sincerity is not only effective and honourable, it is also much less difficult than is commonly supposed.

- George Henry Lewes

Effective, Than, Commonly, Sincerity

Sincerity is moral truth.

- George Henry Lewes

Truth, Moral, Sincerity

Murder, like talent, seems occasionally to run in families.

- George Henry Lewes

Talent, Run, Like, Occasionally

In complex trains of thought signs are indispensable.

- George Henry Lewes

Thought, Signs, Complex, Trains

If you feel yourself to be above the mass, speak so as to raise the mass to the height of your argument.

- George Henry Lewes

Argument, Above, Mass, Height

All good Literature rests primarily on insight.

- George Henry Lewes

Good, Insight, Literature, Rests

Personal experience is the basis of all real Literature.

- George Henry Lewes

Personal, Real, Literature, Personal Experience

Genius is rarely able to give any account of its own processes.

- George Henry Lewes

Brainy, Genius, Give, Account

Science is not addressed to poets.

- George Henry Lewes

Science, Poets

A man may be variously accomplished, and yet be a feeble poet.

- George Henry Lewes

Poet, May, Feeble, Accomplished

Science is the systematic classification of experience.

- George Henry Lewes

Science, Classification, Systematic

In all sincere speech there is power, not necessarily great power, but as much as the speaker is capable of.

- George Henry Lewes

Speech, Speaker, Great Power, Sincere

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