418 Quotes About Classics

He had so long since ceased to direct his life toward any ideal goal, and had confined himself to the pursuit of quotidian satisfactions, that he had come to believe, though without ever formally stating his belief even to himself that he would remain all his life in that condition, which only death could alter.

I always find that after reading books written by Jane Austen that I speak much more properly, at least for a while.

There are people who, the more you do for them, the less they will do for themseselves.

A classic is a book that has never finished what it wants to say.

É clássico aquilo que persiste como rumor mesmo onde predomina a atualidade mais incompatível.

[I]n every serious human idea that is conceived in someone’s head, there always remains something that cannot be conveyed to other people, even though whole volumes were written and your idea explained for thirty-five years; there will always remain something that is on no account willing to come out of your skull and will remain with you for ever; so that you will die without perhaps ever having conveyed to anyone the most important part of your idea.

A recluse, like Hepzibah, usually displays remarkable frankness, and at least temporary affability, on being absolutely cornered, and brought to the point of personal intercourse; like the angel whom Jacob wrestled with, she is ready to bless you when once overcome.

Sie fühlte sich sehr jung; gleichzeitig unaussprechlich betagt. Sie schnitt wie ein Messer durch alles; war gleichzeitig außerhalb und sah zu. Sie hatte eine nicht endende Empfindung, während sie die Droschken beobachtete, draußen zu sein, draußen, weit draußen auf See, und allein; sie hatte immer das Gefühl, es sei sehr, sehr gefährlich, auch nur einen Tag zu leben.

«Εγώ πήρα πολλά από τον δικό μου πόλεμο, πάρε κι εσύ άλλα τόσα από τον δικό σου. Η ζωή δεν παραδίδεται, όσο δυνατά κι αν την καλέσεις, δεν πρόκεται να παραδοθεί. Κανένας δεν είναι σπουδαίος ή ασήμαντος, παρά μόνο στη σκέψη κάποιου άλλου, γι' αυτό πρέπει να προσέχεις σε ποιανού τη σκέψη μπαίνεις και να θυμάσαι τη Λαίδη Μακμπεθ που κρατούσε τη σκέψη της στο χέρι, αν και δεν γίνεται να είμαστε όλοι τόσο ασφαλείς» (σ. 200)