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.
I have no intention of uttering my last words on the stage. Room service and a couple of depraved young women will do me quite nicely for an exit.
Give a critic an inch, he'll write a play.
I want to give a really BAD party. I mean it. I want to give a party where thereβs a brawl and seductions and people going home with their feelings hurt and women passed out in the cabinet de toilette. You wait and see.
I admit," I said, "that a second murder in a book often cheers things up." - Hastings
The whole world is tense. Everybody gets the international news. Theres been no American comedy at all that even remotely addresses the subject in any way. My goal isnt to solve the worlds problems. My character wasnt even able to do his assignment. But the premise of wanting to find out about somebody -- other than the stuff that the CIA will tell you -- theres no hope unless we do that.
Indigestion is charged by God with enforcing morality on the stomach.
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