64 Quotes by Edwin Percy Whipple

Lord Chatham and Napoleon were ns much actors as Garrick or Talma. Now, an imposing air should always be taken as evidence of imposition. Dignity is often a veil between us and the real truth of things.

Wit is an unexpected explosion of thought.

God is glorified, not by our groans, but by our thanksgivings.

There is a serious and resolute egotism that makes a man interesting to his friends and formidable to his opponents.

From Lucifer to Jerry Sneak there is not an aspect of evil, imperfection, and littleness which can elude the lights of humor or the lightning of wit.

The minister’s brain is often the “poor-box” of the church.

Every style formed elaborately on any model must be affected and straight-laced.

Genius is not a single power, but a combination of great powers. It reasons, but it is not reasoning; it judges, but it is not judgment; imagines, but it is not imagination; it feels deeply and fiercely, but it is not passion. It is neither, because it is all.

The familiar writer is apt to be his own satirist. Out of his own mouth is he judged.