264 Quotes by Walter Savage Landor

Principles do not mainly influence even the principled; we talk on principle, but we act on interest.

When the mind loses its feeling for elegance, it grows corrupt and groveling, and seeks in the crowd what ought to be found at home.

The habit of pleasing by flattery makes a language soft; the fear of offending by truth makes it circuitous and conventional.

Despotism sits nowhere so secure as under the effigy and ensigns of freedom.

Many love music but for music's sake, Many because her touches can awake Thoughts that repose within the breast half-dead, And rise to follow where she loves to lead. What various feelings come from days gone by! What tears from far-off sources dim the eye! Few, when light fingers with sweet voices play, And melodies swell, pause, and melt away, Mind how at every touch, at every tone, A spark of life hath glistened and hath gone.

Democracy is always the work of kings. Ashes, which in themselves are sterile, fertilize the land they are cast upon.

Death stands above me, whispering low I know not what into my ear; Of his strange language all I know Is, there is not a word of fear.

Cruelty in all countries is the companion of anger; but there is only one, and never was another on the globe, where she coquets both with anger and mirth.

O what a thing is age! Death without death's quiet.