The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.
Thomas CarlyleRead
Humor has justly been regarded as the finest perfection of poetic genius.
Interpretation
Humor is seen as a pinnacle of poetic creativity.
In this quote, Thomas Carlyle suggests that humor is not merely an amusement but represents a deep level of artistic excellence. A poetβs ability to weave humor into their work showcases a mastery of language and insight into human nature, elevating their poetry to a higher standard of genius.
In practice
During a poetry reading, this quote can be used to highlight the importance of humor in literary works.
The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.
Thirty millions, mostly fools.
There is a great discovery still to be made in literature, that of paying literary men by the quantity they do not write.
For the superior morality, of which we hear so much, we too would desire to be thankful: at the same time, it were but blindness to deny that this superior morality is properly rather an inferior criminality, produced not by greater love of Virtue, but by greater perfection of Police; and of that far subtler and stronger Police, called Public Opinion.
Enjoying things which are pleasant; that is not the evil; it is the reducing of our moral self to slavery by them that is.
Clean undeniable right, clear undeniable might: either of these once ascertained puts an end to battle. All battle is a confused experiment to ascertain one and both of these.
When in doubt, go for the dick joke.
There was a time when people said, 'Jim, if you keep on making faces, your face will freeze like that.' Now they just say, 'Pay him!'
The truth is, Pavlov's dog trained Pavlov to ring this bell just before the dog salivated.
If you have to dry the dishes (Such an awful boring chore) If you have to dry the dishes ('Stead of going to the store) If you have to dry the dishes And you drop one on the floor Maybe they won't let you Dry the dishes anymore
I don't believe in dying. It's been done. I'm working on a new exit. Besides, I can't die now - I'm booked.
Neurosis is just a high-class word for whining.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.