George Saintsbury Quotes

Powerful George Saintsbury for Daily Growth

About George Saintsbury

George Saintsbury (1845-1933) was an eminent British literary scholar, philosopher, and wine connoisseur, renowned for his extensive contributions to the study of English literature and oenology. Born on February 20, 1845, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saintsbury developed a keen interest in literature at a young age, thanks to the influence of his father, Thomas Saintsbury, who was an influential lawyer and bibliophile. Saintsbury pursued his education at Marlborough College, where he honed his intellect under the tutelage of Henry Liddell, the brother of Lewis Carroll. He later attended Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied under Benjamin Jowett and Matthew Arnold, two of the most prominent figures in Victorian literary criticism. Upon graduating from Oxford, Saintsbury took up a series of academic posts at Trinity College, Cambridge, and University College London, before settling as the Professor of Rhetoric and English Literature at the University of Edinburgh (1895-1910). Throughout his career, he authored numerous influential works, including "The English Novel" (1886), a multi-volume study that remains one of the foundational texts in the field of English literary criticism. Saintsbury's other significant works include "A History of Criticism and Literary Taste in Europe with Glimpses into America" (1900) and "The Life of Johnson" (1906), a comprehensive biography of Samuel Johnson, the renowned 18th-century English author. In addition to his literary scholarship, Saintsbury wrote extensively on oenology, publishing seminal works such as "A History of Wine in Literature" (1864) and "Notes on a Cellar-Book" (1872). Saintsbury's contributions to the fields of literature and wine have left an indelible mark on both academia and popular culture, making him one of the most influential figures in Victorian literary studies. He died on December 23, 1933, at the age of 88, having left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire scholars and enthusiasts alike.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world."

The quote by George Saintsbury highlights that wine, as a social beverage with a long history of human civilization, is associated with refinement, sophistication, and cultivated behavior. In essence, it's a symbol of civilization, indicating the civilized nature of shared experiences, conviviality, and the appreciation of good things in life.

"Books are a uniquely portable magic."

George Saintsbury's quote, "Books are a uniquely portable magic," implies that books contain an enchanting power that transcends physical limitations. They can be easily transported, shared, and offer knowledge, stories, or ideas, thus enabling us to explore the world beyond our immediate surroundings, making us privy to endless possibilities and magical experiences. In essence, he emphasizes the transformative nature of books - a tool that opens doors to new worlds and enriches our minds.

"The history of civilization could almost be written in terms of its food and drink."

This quote by George Saintsbury suggests that the evolution of human civilization can be significantly understood through its culinary and drinking practices. Food and drink are not just basic necessities but deeply rooted in societal norms, traditions, economics, trade, technology, art, and culture. Changes in food habits often reflect advancements in agriculture, cooking techniques, transportation, global exchange, and other aspects of civilization. Thus, the history of civilization can be seen as a progression shaped by these fundamental needs for sustenance and social interaction.

"A good dinner party needs talk, not music, for music upsets the conversation."

George Saintsbury's quote emphasizes the importance of meaningful conversation in social settings, particularly during a dinner party, over musical entertainment. He suggests that music can disrupt or distract from lively discussions and engaging interactions among guests, which are essential for creating memorable experiences at such gatherings. In other words, while music can enhance certain moods and atmospheres, it may not foster the kind of intellectual stimulation and connection that a good dinner party aims to provide.

"Good wine is a key to many pleasant hours, good books are a key to many happy days; but good friends are a key to a lifetime."

This quote by George Saintsbury emphasizes the significance of three fundamental aspects that enrich our lives: good wine, good books, and good friends. Good wine symbolizes moments of enjoyment and relaxation, while good books represent intellectual stimulation and personal growth. However, it is good friends who bring enduring value to our lifetimes, providing companionship, support, and shared experiences that shape our character and create lasting memories. In essence, the quote highlights the importance of both indulging in life's simple pleasures and cherishing meaningful relationships in creating a fulfilling life.

The Odyssey is, indeed, one of the greatest of all stories, it is the original romance of the West; but the Iliad, though a magnificent poem, is not much of a story.

- George Saintsbury

Original, Romance, Stories, Indeed

The transition state of manners and language cannot be too often insisted upon: for this affected the process at both ends, giving the artist in fictitious life an uncertain model to copy and unstable materials to work in.

- George Saintsbury

Work, Process, Artist, Materials

To pass to the deluge, and beyond it, and to come to close quarters with our proper division, the origin of Romance itself is a very debatable subject, or rather it is a subject which the wiser mind will hardly care to debate much.

- George Saintsbury

Romance, Very, Which, Debatable

But at the time when he wrote, Englishmen, with the rarest exceptions, wrote only in French or Latin; and when they began to write in English, a man of genius, to interpret and improve on him, was not found for a long time.

- George Saintsbury

Began, Wrote, Englishmen, Latin

But even gold is not everything: and only a fanatic, and a rather foolish fanatic, would say that this style of fiction summed up and exhausted all the good that fiction could give and do.

- George Saintsbury

Give, Fiction, Rather, Foolish

Between Scott on the earlier side and Dickens and Thackeray on the other, there was an immense production of novels, illustrated by not a few names which should rank high in the second class, while some would promote more than one of them to the first.

- George Saintsbury

Some, Other, Production, Dickens

But the eighteenth century, on the whole, loathed melancholy.

- George Saintsbury

Century, Whole, Eighteenth, Melancholy

One of the best known, and one of the least intelligible, facts of literary history is the lateness, in Western European Literature at any rate, of prose fiction, and the comparative absence, in the two great classical languages, of what we call by that name.

- George Saintsbury

Fiction, Prose, Languages, Comparative

It is the unbroken testimony of all history that alcoholic liquors have been used by the strongest, wisest, handsomest, and in every way best races of all times.

- George Saintsbury

Best, Been, Unbroken, Testimony

Miss Austen had shown the infinite possibilities of ordinary and present things for the novelist.

- George Saintsbury

Possibilities, Shown, Austen

The Italian prose tale had begun to exercise that influence as early as Chaucer's time: but circumstances and atmosphere were as yet unfavourable for its growth.

- George Saintsbury

Begun, Prose, Atmosphere, Italian

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