James Stephens Quotes

• Originality does not consist in saying what no one has ever said before, but in saying exactly what you think yourself.

  James Stephens

  Inspirational, Wisdom, Writing

  51 Copy quote

• What the heart knows today the head will understand tomorrow.

  James Stephens

  Education, Wedding, Wisdom

  James Stephens (2015). “The Crock of Gold”, p.93, Booklassic

  21 Copy quote

• We get wise by asking questions, and even if these are not answered we get wise, for a well-packed question carries its answer on its back as a snail carries its shell.

  James Stephens

  Wise, Asking Questions, Shells

  James Stephens (2015). “Irish Fairy Tales”, p.49, Booklassic

  14 Copy quote

• Men come of age at sixty, women at fifteen.

  James Stephens

  Men, Age, Fifteen

  6 Copy quote

• Let the past be content with itself, for man needs forgetfulness as well as memory

  James Stephens

  Memories, Past, Men

  James Stephens (2015). “Irish Fairy Tales”, p.8, Booklassic

  9 Copy quote

• It is by love alone that we understand anything

  James Stephens

  Alone In Love

  James Stephens (1996). “Traditional Irish Fairy Tales”, p.56, Courier Corporation

  5 Copy quote

• Women and birds are able to see without turning their heads, and that is indeed a necessary provision for they are both surrounded by enemies.

  James Stephens

  Bird, Enemy, Able

  James Stephens (1962). “A James Stephens Reader”

  7 Copy quote

• The duty of a lyrical poet is not to express or explain, it is to intensify life.

  James Stephens

  Poet, Lyrical, Duty

  James Stephens, Shirley Stevens Mulligan (2006). “The Poems of James Stephens”, A Colin Smythe Publication

  8 Copy quote

• Tell me your past, my beloved, for a man is his past, and is to be known by it.

  James Stephens

  Past, Men, Beloved

  James Stephens (2015). “Irish Fairy Tales”, p.8, Booklassic

  4 Copy quote

• You must be fit to give before you can be fit to receive.

  James Stephens

  Giving, Fit

  James Stephens (2015). “The Crock of Gold”, p.7, Booklassic

  4 Copy quote

• A woman is a branchy tree and man a singing wind; and from her branches carelessly he takes what he can find.

  James Stephens

  Men, Wind, Tree

  James Stephens, Shirley Stevens Mulligan (2006). “The Poems of James Stephens”, A Colin Smythe Publication

  7 Copy quote

• Because our lives are cowardly and sly, Because we do not dare to take or give, Because we scowl and pass each other by, We do not live; we do not dare to live.

  James Stephens

  Giving, Dare, Sly

  James Stephens (1962). “A James Stephens Reader”

  4 Copy quote

• My three-thousand mile walk through Ireland convinced me of one thing - the possibility of organising a proper movement for the independence of my native land.

  James Stephens

  Land, Independence, Three

  4 Copy quote

• I would think Until I found Something I can never find; - Something Lying On the ground, In the bottom Of my mind.

  James Stephens

  Lying, Thinking, Mind

  James Stephens (1962). “A James Stephens Reader”

  6 Copy quote

• Is it not possible that the ultimate end is gaiety and music and a dance of joy?

  James Stephens

  Joy, Ends, Gaiety

  James Stephens (2015). “The Crock of Gold”, p.9, Booklassic

  4 Copy quote

• I hear a sudden cry of pain! There is a rabbit in a snare.

  James Stephens

  Pain, Rabbits, Cry

  'The Snare' (1915)

  8 Copy quote

• I came to the resolve that the attempt was not only worth trying, but should be tried in the very near future if we wanted at all to keep our flag flying; for I was sure as of my own existence that if another decade was allowed to pass without an endeavour of some kind or another to shake off an unjust yoke, the Irish people would sink into lethargy from which it would be impossible for any patriot . . . to arouse them . . .

  James Stephens

  People, Flying, Trying

  4 Copy quote

• Finality is death. Perfection is finality. Nothing is perfect. There are lumps in it.

  James Stephens

  Perfect, Finality, Lumps

  'The Crock of Gold' (1912) bk. 1, ch. 4

  8 Copy quote

• Can a spear divine the Eternal Will?

  James Stephens

  Peace, Divine, Spears

  James Stephens (2015). “The Crock of Gold”, p.79, Booklassic

  4 Copy quote

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