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45 Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Quotes (POEMS)

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Top 10 Most Famous Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Quotes (BEST)

“Don’t flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become. Except in cases of necessity, which are rare, leave your friend to learn unpleasant things from his enemies; they are ready enough to tell them.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes
A man's mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.
A man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.
The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions.
The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions.
To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor.
To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor.
Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.
Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.

“What refuge is there for the victim who is oppressed with the feeling that there are a thousand new books he ought to read, while life is only long enough for him to attempt to read a hundred?”

Oliver Wendell Holmes
Beware how you take away hope from any human being.
Beware how you take away hope from any human being.
Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.
Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.
Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.
Men do not quit playing because they grow old; they grow old because they quit playing.
Youth fades, love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all.
Youth fades, love droops, the leaves of friendship fall; A mother’s secret hope outlives them all.

12 Inspirational Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Quotes About Life

To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old.
To be seventy years young is sometimes far more cheerful and hopeful than to be forty years old.
Have the courage to act instead of react.
Have the courage to act instead of react.
The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.
The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce.
It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living.
It’s faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living.
The great thing in this world, is not so much where we are, but in which direction we are moving.
The great thing in this world, is not so much where we are, but in which direction we are moving.
Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.
Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.
Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.
Be polite and generous, but don’t undervalue yourself. You will be useful, at any rate; you may just as well be happy, while you are about it.
Be polite and generous, but don’t undervalue yourself. You will be useful, at any rate; you may just as well be happy, while you are about it.
Why can't somebody give us a list of things that everybody thinks and nobody says, and another list of things that everybody says and nobody thinks?
Why can’t somebody give us a list of things that everybody thinks and nobody says, and another list of things that everybody says and nobody thinks?
Though fortune scowl, though prudence interfere, One thing is certain: Love will triumph here!
Though fortune scowl, though prudence interfere, One thing is certain: Love will triumph here!
Alas for those that never sing, But die with all their music in them!
Alas for those that never sing, But die with all their music in them!
The Amen of nature is always a flower.
The Amen of nature is always a flower.

17 Wise Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Quotes That Will Make You Think (WISDOM)

“When I think of talking, it is of course with a woman. For talking at its best being an inspiration, it wants a corresponding divine quality of receptiveness, and where will you find this but in a woman?”

Oliver Wendell Holmes
Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked.
Insanity is often the logic of an accurate mind overtasked.
Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust.
Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust.
It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.
It is the province of knowledge to speak and it is the privilege of wisdom to listen.
Nothing is so common-place as to wish to be remarkable.
Nothing is so common-place as to wish to be remarkable.
A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience.
A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.
The sound of a kiss is not so loud as that of a cannon, but its echo lasts a great deal longer.
The sound of a kiss is not so loud as that of a cannon, but its echo lasts a great deal longer.
Learn the sweet magic of a cheerful face.
Learn the sweet magic of a cheerful face.
For the simplicity on this side of complexity, I wouldn't give you a fig. But for the simplicity on the other side of complexity, for that I would give you anything I have.
For the simplicity on this side of complexity, I wouldn’t give you a fig. But for the simplicity on the other side of complexity, for that I would give you anything I have.
Man has his will, but woman has her way.
Man has his will, but woman has her way.
To obtain a man's opinion of you, make him mad.
To obtain a man’s opinion of you, make him mad.
A man may fulfill the object of his existence by asking a question he cannot answer, and attempting a task he cannot achieve.
A man may fulfill the object of his existence by asking a question he cannot answer, and attempting a task he cannot achieve.
Most people are willing to take the Sermon on the Mount as a flag to sail under, but few will use it as a rudder by which to steer.
Most people are willing to take the Sermon on the Mount as a flag to sail under, but few will use it as a rudder by which to steer.
The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of an eye. The more light you shine on it, the more it will contract.
The mind of a bigot is like the pupil of an eye. The more light you shine on it, the more it will contract.
A thought is often original, though you have uttered it a hundred times.
A thought is often original, though you have uttered it a hundred times.
Fame usually comes to those who are thinking about something else.
Fame usually comes to those who are thinking about something else.
A child's education should begin at least one hundred years before he is born.
A child’s education should begin at least one hundred years before he is born.

4 Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Quotes on Truth

Truth, when not sought after, rarely comes to light.
Truth, when not sought after, rarely comes to light.
Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day, like a football, and it will be round and full at evening.
Truth is tough. It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch; nay, you may kick it about all day, like a football, and it will be round and full at evening.
Don’t be 'consistent', — but be simply true.
Don’t be ‘consistent’, — but be simply true.
I think you will find that people who honestly mean to be true really contradict themselves much more rarely than those who try to be 'consistent.'
I think you will find that people who honestly mean to be true really contradict themselves much more rarely than those who try to be ‘consistent.’

2 Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Quotes on Books and Reading

The books we read should be chosen with great care, that they may be, as an Egyptian king wrote over his library, 'The medicines of the soul.'
The books we read should be chosen with great care, that they may be, as an Egyptian king wrote over his library, ‘The medicines of the soul.’
The best of a book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts.
The best of a book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts.

(MUST READ) Oliver Wendell Holmes: A Life in War, Law, and Ideas

Oliver Wendell Holmes: A Life in War, Law, and Ideas
Oliver Wendell Holmes: A Life in War, Law, and Ideas

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Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Quotes (POEMS) - Gracious Quotes