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Walter Savage Landor Quotes

Powerful Walter Savage Landor for Daily Growth

About Walter Savage Landor

Walter Savage Landor, a prominent English poet, essayist, and translator, was born on January 30, 1775, in Shrewsbury, England. He was the son of an Italian father, Pietro Antonio Landori, and an English mother, Mary Savage. Due to his father's financial difficulties, Landor was not given a formal education but instead read extensively on his own, developing a deep love for Greek and Roman literature. Landor moved to London in 1798, where he met many influential figures of the day, including William Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Robert Southey. However, Landor's relationship with these Romantic poets was strained due to his skepticism towards their idealistic views. In 1802, Landor published his first significant work, "Gebir: A Fragment," a poem that showcased his unique style of blending classical themes with contemporary issues. His most famous work, "Imaginary Conversations," began serial publication in 1824 and continued until his death in 1864. This collection of fictional dialogues between historical figures was groundbreaking for its time, showcasing Landor's wit, intelligence, and deep understanding of human nature. Landor's life was marked by personal tragedies, including the loss of two wives and significant financial difficulties. Despite these challenges, he continued to write prolifically, producing a vast body of work that has left an enduring impact on English literature. One of Landor's most famous quotes is "The greatest thing in the world is to know how to love," encapsulating his deep understanding of human emotions and his belief in the power of love as a transformative force. Walter Savage Landor died on September 17, 1864, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to inspire readers today.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The greatest thing in the world is to know how to love and be loved."

This quote suggests that love, in its deepest form, is the most valuable aspect of human existence. Not only does it imply a profound understanding of giving and receiving affection, but also emphasizes the importance of being loved in return. In essence, Landor posits that the ability to love and be loved forms the foundation of a meaningful life.

"Age is opportunity no seize it on the run or you will treasure your recollections of what might have been."

This quote emphasizes the importance of making the most out of each stage of life, as time does not wait for anyone. It encourages individuals to embrace opportunities that come their way, rather than dwelling on missed chances or regretting past inactions. The message is to seize opportunities when they present themselves and not let the passing of time lead to thoughts of "what might have been".

"Those who cannot look upon their yesterdays with happiness, have lost the future."

This quote suggests that having a positive view of one's past is crucial for a fulfilling future. If someone cannot find joy or satisfaction in reflecting on their past experiences, it may indicate dissatisfaction or regret, which can negatively impact their outlook and motivation towards the future. A happy reflection of yesterdays signifies a life well-lived, filled with meaningful moments and achievements, giving confidence and hope for a bright tomorrow.

"Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it."

This quote by Walter Savage Landor emphasizes the sacrifices made by previous generations to secure the freedom enjoyed by future ones. He urges posterity, or those who come after us, to appreciate their freedom and make wise and productive use of it, as a token of gratitude for the efforts expended in its preservation.

"I do not think much of a philosophy that ends in a shrug of the shoulders."

Landor's quote implies that he values philosophies that offer meaningful insights, solutions, or perspectives, rather than ones that lead to ambiguity or uncertainty ("a shrug of the shoulders"). In essence, he suggests that philosophy should guide us towards understanding life and its complexities, not leave us indifferent or confused.

No ashes are lighter than those of incense, and few things burn out sooner.

- Walter Savage Landor

Burn, Sooner, Than, Lighter

Truth, like the juice of the poppy, in small quantities, calms men; in larger, heats and irritates them, and is attended by fatal consequences in excess.

- Walter Savage Landor

Small, Larger, Attended, Excess

Ambition has but one reward for all: A little power, a little transient fame; A grave to rest in, and a fading name!

- Walter Savage Landor

Ambition, Rest, Reward, Transient

The wise become as the unwise in the enchanted chambers of Power, whose lamps make every face the same colour.

- Walter Savage Landor

Whose, Lamps, Chambers, Unwise

The writing of the wise are the only riches our posterity cannot squander.

- Walter Savage Landor

Wise, Writing, Riches, Squander

There is delight in singing, though none hear beside the singer.

- Walter Savage Landor

Singing, Singer, Though, Delight

Study is the bane of childhood, the oil of youth, the indulgence of adulthood, and a restorative in old age.

- Walter Savage Landor

Study, Oil, Indulgence, Bane

Great men lose somewhat of their greatness by being near us; ordinary men gain much.

- Walter Savage Landor

Greatness, Lose, Ordinary, Ordinary Men

Kindness in ourselves is the honey that blunts the sting of unkindness in another.

- Walter Savage Landor

Honey, Another, Unkindness, Sting

The flame of anger, bright and brief, sharpens the barb of love.

- Walter Savage Landor

Anger, Sharpens, Brief, Flame

Even the weakest disputant is made so conceited by what he calls religion, as to think himself wiser than the wisest who think differently from him.

- Walter Savage Landor

Think, Made, Weakest, Conceited

My thoughts are my company; I can bring them together, select them, detain them, dismiss them.

- Walter Savage Landor

Thoughts, Bring, Select, Dismiss

Prose on certain occasions can bear a great deal of poetry; on the other hand, poetry sinks and swoons under a moderate weight of prose.

- Walter Savage Landor

Deal, Other, Prose, Great Deal

No thoroughly occupied person was ever found really miserable.

- Walter Savage Landor

Found, Ever, Thoroughly, Occupied

Every sect is a moral check on its neighbour. Competition is as wholesome in religion as in commerce.

- Walter Savage Landor

Competition, Wholesome, Neighbour

Great men always pay deference to greater.

- Walter Savage Landor

Men, Always, Pay, Greater

Consult duty not events.

- Walter Savage Landor

Duty, Consult, Events

Delay in justice is injustice.

- Walter Savage Landor

Justice, Injustice, Delay

In argument, truth always prevails finally; in politics, falsehood always.

- Walter Savage Landor

Politics, Argument, Always, Falsehood

An ingenuous mind feels in unmerited praise the bitterest reproof.

- Walter Savage Landor

Mind, Praise, Feels, Bitterest

Many laws as certainly make bad men, as bad men make many laws.

- Walter Savage Landor

Bad, Laws, Certainly, Bad Men

Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven.

- Walter Savage Landor

Music, Gift, Given, Heaven

Men, like nails, lose their usefulness when they lose their direction and begin to bend.

- Walter Savage Landor

Nails, Like, Usefulness, Bend

The Siren waits thee, singing song for song.

- Walter Savage Landor

Song, Thee, Waits, Siren

There is nothing on earth divine except humanity.

- Walter Savage Landor

Earth, Nothing, Except, Humanity

We cannot be contented because we are happy, and we cannot be happy because we are contented.

- Walter Savage Landor

Happy, Be Happy, We Cannot, Contented

Goodness does not more certainly make men happy than happiness makes them good.

- Walter Savage Landor

Happiness, Certainly, Does, Goodness

We often fancy that we suffer from ingratitude, while in reality we suffer from self-love.

- Walter Savage Landor

Self-Love, Fancy, Suffer, Ingratitude

We think that we suffer from ingratitude, while in reality we suffer from self-love.

- Walter Savage Landor

Self-Love, Think, Suffer, Ingratitude

Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked.

- Walter Savage Landor

Avarice, Ambition

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