Famous Quotes by Thomas Carlyle (212 Quotations)

He that can work is born to be king of something.

Thomas Carlyle – [Kings]

Heroism is the divine relation which, in all times, unites a great man to other men.

Thomas Carlyle – [Heroes and Heroism]

History is the distillation of rumor.

Thomas Carlyle – [History and Historians]

History is the essence of innumerable biographies.

Thomas Carlyle – [Biography]

History shows that the majority of people that have done anything great have passed their youth in seclusion.

Thomas Carlyle – [Solitude]

I call the book of Job, apart from all theories about it, one of the grandest things ever written with the pen.

Thomas Carlyle – [Bible]

I do not believe in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.

Thomas Carlyle – [Ignorance]

I don't pretend to understand the Universe — it's a great deal bigger than I am.

Thomas Carlyle – [Universe]

I grow daily to honor facts more and more, and theory less and less. A fact, it seems to me, is a great thing — a sentence printed, if not by God, then at least by the Devil.

Thomas Carlyle – [Facts]

I have seen gleams in the face and eyes of the man that have let you look into a higher country.

Thomas Carlyle – [Vision]

If a book comes from the heart it will contrive to reach other hearts. All art and author craft are of small account to that.

Thomas Carlyle – [Books and Reading]

If an eloquent speaker speak not the truth, is there a more horrid kind of object in creation?

Thomas Carlyle – [Speakers and Speaking]

If the cut of the costume indicates intellect and talent, then the color indicates temper and heart.

Thomas Carlyle – [Fashion]

If there be no enemy there's no fight. If no fight, no victory and if no victory there is no crown.

Thomas Carlyle – [Enemies]

If those gentlemen would let me alone I should be much obliged to them. I would say, as Shakespeare would say… ''Sweet Friend, for Jesus sake forbear.''

Thomas Carlyle – [Biography]

If time is precious, no book that will not improve by repeated reading deserves to be read at all.

Thomas Carlyle – [Time and Time Management]

If what you have done is unjust, you have not succeeded.

Thomas Carlyle – [Success]

If you do not wish a man to do a thing, you had better get him to talk about it; for the more men talk, the more likely they are to do nothing else.

Thomas Carlyle – [Motivation]

If you look deep enough you will see music; the heart of nature being everywhere music.

Thomas Carlyle – [Music]

Ill-health, of body or of mind, is defeat. Health alone is victory. Let all men, if they can manage it, contrive to be healthy!

Thomas Carlyle – [Health]