William HazlittThinkers

The Book lets us into their souls and lays open to us the secrets of our own.

Confidence is everything. As is our confidence, so is our capacity.

Controversy is synonomyous with interest. When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest.

Crying is peculiar to man. He is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are, and what they ought to be.

Dandyism is a species of genius.

Death is not when we die. Rather, we have mouldered away gradually long before in our faculties, our interests and our attachments such that we are torn from ourselves while living.

Experience is a profound kind of knowledge. One knows more of a road by having traveled it than by all the conjectures and descriptions in the world.

Familiarity may not breed contempt, but it takes off the edge of admiration.

Greatness is nothing but great thoughts reduced to practice.

Greatness no truly great person ever thought themselves.

Interest is necessarily tied up with some kind of tension. When a thing ceases to be a subject of controversy, it ceases to be a subject of interest.