Samuel Barnett Quotes

Powerful Samuel Barnett for Daily Growth

About Samuel Barnett

Samuel Barnett (1844-1913), a prolific British author, was born on April 7, 1844, in London, England. Known for his social reform writings and contributions to the Bible in Modern English, Barnett's life and works were significantly influenced by his faith and dedication to social justice. Barnett received his early education at King's College School in London before studying at Queen's College, Cambridge. However, he did not complete his degree due to financial difficulties. Instead, he dedicated himself to writing and religious study, becoming an ordained Anglican priest in 1869. In 1873, Barnett co-founded the Church Army, a missionary movement aiming to bring faith and social action to urban communities in need. This organization remains active today. In 1882, he established Toynbee Hall, an educational settlement in London's East End, which became a model for similar institutions worldwide. Barnett's most significant work is arguably his translation of the Bible into Modern English, published in 1871 as "The Revised Version of the New Testament" and completed with the Old Testament in 1885. This version was widely adopted by Anglican churches for its accessible language. Barnett's social reform writings include "The Bitter Cry of Outcast London" (1883) and "The Claims of Workers" (1890). These works highlighted the living conditions of urban laborers, advocating for better wages, housing, and working conditions. Samuel Barnett passed away on April 25, 1913, leaving behind a rich legacy of social reform and religious literature that continues to influence discussions on faith, social justice, and the role of the church in society.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is a great surprise every day."

This quote by Samuel Barnett suggests that life is full of unexpected events and discoveries, each new day brings something fresh and unpredictable. It encourages an open-minded attitude towards experiences and celebrates the joy in the unknown. Embracing this perspective can lead to a more fulfilling and engaging approach to life.


"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

This quote by Samuel Barnett emphasizes the power of personal action and proactivity in shaping one's own destiny. It suggests that instead of passively waiting for circumstances to unfold, individuals should actively participate in creating their own future through deliberate actions and decisions. In essence, it underscores the idea that we have the ability to mold our lives according to our aspirations and goals if we are willing to take charge and make things happen.


"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."

This quote suggests that true happiness is not a pre-existing state, but rather an outcome of one's personal actions and behaviors. In other words, we have the power to create our own happiness by making positive choices, taking meaningful actions, and cultivating a fulfilling life through our efforts and decisions. It encourages the idea that we are responsible for our own well-being and can find joy in actively working towards personal growth, purpose, and connection with others.


"To love and be loved is to feel the sun from within."

This quote by Samuel Barnett suggests that experiencing love, both giving and receiving it, is akin to feeling the warmth and life-giving energy of the sun. It implies that love has the power to nurture, energize, and bring joy from within oneself, just as the sun provides light and warmth to the world. It underscores the profound impact that love can have on an individual's emotional well-being and sense of fulfillment.


"The only way to do great work is to love what you do."

This quote emphasizes that genuine passion and affection for one's work are essential for achieving significant accomplishments or producing remarkable results. It suggests that when individuals genuinely enjoy, care about, and feel inspired by their work, they will be more motivated, committed, and persistent in overcoming challenges, ultimately leading to greatness. In other words, love and enthusiasm for one's profession can translate into exceptional outcomes.


I guess I've grown to admire Queen Elizabeth II more. I've always struggled with my feelings about the Royal Family. I am a supporter. I'm not someone who thinks we should get rid of them. But what I've struggled with is the lack of emotionality that the Queen seems to share.

- Samuel Barnett

Queen, Admire, Struggled, Royal Family

This industry isn't fair. It doesn't owe anybody a career. It's just about luck, determination, and showing up and being professional. The rest is out of your hands.

- Samuel Barnett

Luck, Rest, Career, Showing Up

I hope it's always going to be a mix between theatre, film and radio. I've been very lucky living in London that you can do all that - in New York and L.A., there's more of a structure for film in L.A. and theatre in New York. In London, our industry is smaller, but it produces brilliant work all in one place.

- Samuel Barnett

Lucky, Been, Very, Mix

I never wanted to do Shakespeare; I never liked watching it, it's always frightened me, and I've never been any good at it. But I really wanted to work with the director Tim Carroll and Mark Rylance.

- Samuel Barnett

Work, Always, Been, Frightened

I want to be engaged and moved by theatre, there's nothing more disappointing than being left cold. After 'The Author,' I felt wrung out emotionally, like a used tissue.

- Samuel Barnett

More, Like, Engaged, Disappointing

With Millais's paintings, it's microscopic; when he does hair, it's extraordinary: you can see every strand.

- Samuel Barnett

Hair, Extraordinary, See, Microscopic

The Pre-Raphaelites, while very bothered by what the establishment thought of them, also utterly rebelled against it. In everything - social, sexual, emotional - they were out on a limb, pushing the boundaries.

- Samuel Barnett

Thought, Very, Limb, Rebelled

Acting is a sport - especially working with Mark Rylance. There is competition involved. I have to be muscular, challenging, get audiences on side. It's extraordinary how Globe audiences join in - it's like competing at an event - I love it.

- Samuel Barnett

Love, Competing, Muscular, Mark

I've definitely learned that if you want to have power as a woman in Shakespeare's time, and it's still relevant today, that you have to play a different game than men play, and you have to be a lot cleverer.

- Samuel Barnett

Game, Play, Still, Shakespeare

It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.

- Samuel Barnett

New, Understand, Like, Shakespeare

Obviously we had to study Shakespeare at school, but to be honest, I was not a fan. I found the language very difficult, and I didn't enjoy watching it or studying it. I auditioned five times for the Royal Shakespeare Company early on in my career, and I didn't even get past the first rounds.

- Samuel Barnett

Career, Study, Very, Shakespeare

Journalists have sometimes looked to my Twitter account and quoted me from there, and that's fine because that's public domain. I know exactly what I'm doing when I post something on Twitter; in a way, it's saying, 'This is who I am, and I don't have anything to hide.'

- Samuel Barnett

Doing, Sometimes, Anything, Account

I have been out of drama school for 13 years, so there are 13 years' worth of graduates behind me.

- Samuel Barnett

Behind, Been, Graduates, Drama School

My life, my family and my friends are back in the U.K., so ideally I would love the kind of career that is split between London and New York.

- Samuel Barnett

Love, My Life, New, Ideally

In New York, I get people coming up to me because 'The History Boys' was such a hit on Broadway, and they show the film all the time on cable over there, so people recognise you.

- Samuel Barnett

New, Over, Broadway, Cable

I like all sorts of art, that's why I love wandering around The National Gallery.

- Samuel Barnett

Love, Art, Like, Gallery

Like the Elizabeth I play, Queen Elizabeth is a monarch who actually moves with the times. She gets new information, assimilates it, and changes in order the fit in with the way the world is moving. I admire that.

- Samuel Barnett

Play, New, Elizabeth, Monarch

I feel like I've gotten more than a lot of people will ever get. I feel very fortunate.

- Samuel Barnett

Like, Very, Gotten, Fortunate

Are men and women different creatures? Do we feel things differently? Being a man, I can't know what a woman feels.

- Samuel Barnett

Woman, Creatures, Feels, Men And Women

I have my own faith which I've developed. It's non-denominational. I don't even know if it's about God.

- Samuel Barnett

Own, My Own, Which, Developed

I love just walking around New York. It's like a whole world in one place.

- Samuel Barnett

Love, New, Like, Just Walking

I really admire paintings that look like an actual snapshot - I think that's just extraordinary.

- Samuel Barnett

Think, Like, I Think, Actual

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