Thomas Carlyle Sayings and Quotes

Below you will find our collection of inspirational, wise, and humorous old Thomas Carlyle quotes, Thomas Carlyle sayings, and Thomas Carlyle proverbs, collected over the years from a variety of sources.'

He who knows others is clever; He who knows himself has discernment. Thomas Carlyle
Clever men are good, but they are not the best. Thomas Carlyle
Everywhere in life, the true question is not what we gain, but what we do. Thomas Carlyle
Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment. Thomas Carlyle
The mystical bond of brotherhood makes all men brothers. Thomas Carlyle
The old cathedrals are good, but the great blue dome that hangs over everything is better. Thomas Carlyle
Adversity is the diamond dust Heaven polishes its jewels with. Thomas Carlyle
Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement s, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. Thomas Carlyle
Endurance is patience concentrated. Thomas Carlyle
All deep things are song. It seems somehow the very central essence of us, song; as if all the rest were but wrappages and hulls! Thomas Carlyle
Every noble work is at first impossible. Thomas Carlyle
Isolation is the sum total of wretchedness to a man. Thomas Carlyle
The first sin in our universe was Lucifer's self conceit. Thomas Carlyle
Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. Thomas Carlyle
Great is journalism. Is not every able editor a ruler of the world, being the persuader of it? Thomas Carlyle
The block of granite which was an obstacle in the pathway of the weak, became a stepping-stone in the pathway of the strong. Thomas Carlyle
Today is not yesterday; how can our works and thoughts, if they are always to be the fittest, continue always the same? Change, indeed, is painful, yet ever needful. Thomas Carlyle
Dinners are defined as the ultimate act of communion; men that can have communion in nothing else, can sympathetically eat together, can still rise into some glow of brotherhood over food and wine. Thomas Carlyle
A person with a clear purpose will make progress, even on the roughest road. A person with no purpose will make no progress, even on the smoothest road. Thomas Carlyle
No pressure, no diamonds. Thomas Carlyle
For all right judgment of any man or things it is useful, nay, essential, to see his good qualities before pronouncing on his bad. Thomas Carlyle
The glory of a workman, still more of a master workman, that he does his work well, ought to be his most precious possession, like the honor of a soldier, dearer to him than life. Thomas Carlyle
The insignificant, the empty, is usually the loud; and after the manner of a drum, is louder even because of its emptiness. Thomas Carlyle
Popular opinion is the greatest lie in the world. Thomas Carlyle
Oblivion is the dark page, whereon Memory writes her light-beam characters, and makes them legible; were it all light, nothing could be read there, any more than if it were all darkness. Thomas Carlyle
Without oblivion, there is no remembrance possible. When both oblivion and memory are wise, when the general soul of man is clear, melodious, true, there may come a modern Iliad as memorial of the Past. Thomas Carlyle
Popular opinion is the greatest lie in the world. Thomas Carlyle
All destruction, by violent revolution or however it be, is but new creation on a wider scale. Thomas Carlyle
The sincere alone can recognize sincerity. Thomas Carlyle
We observe with confidence that the truly strong mind, view it as intellect or morality, or under any other aspect, is nowise the mind acquainted with its strength; that here the sign of health is unconsciousness. Thomas Carlyle