There is first the literature of knowledge, and secondly, the literature of power. The function of the first is--to teach; the function of the second is--to move, the first is a rudder, the second an oar or a sail. The first speaks to the mere discursive understanding; the second speaks ultimately, it may happen, to the higher understanding or reason, but always through affections of pleasure and sympathy. - Thomas De Quincey ("The Opium Eater"),


Thomas De Quincey ("The Opium Eater")

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More Thomas De Quincey ("The Opium Eater")

Thou hast the keys of Paradise, O just, subtle, and mighty opium!
THOMAS DE QUINCEY ("THE OPIUM EATER")
Allow me to offer my congratulations on the truly admirable skill you have shown in keeping clear o...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY ("THE OPIUM EATER")
If once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think little of robbing; and from ro...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Surely everyone is aware of the divine pleasures which attend a wintry fireside; candles at four o'c...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Man should forget his anger before he lies down to sleep.
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Call for the grandest of all earthly spectacles, what is that? It is the sun going to his rest.
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
In many walks of life, a conscience is a more expensive encumbrance than a wife or a carriage.
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Thou hast the keys of Paradise, oh just, subtle, and mighty opium!
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Flowers that are so pathetic in their beauty, frail as the clouds, and in their coloring as gorgeous...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Tea, though ridiculed by those who are naturally coarse in their nervous sensibilities will always b...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Solitude, though it may be silent as light, is like light, the mightiest of agencies; for solitude i...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Cows are amongst the gentlest of breathing creatures; none show more passionate tenderness to their ...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Nobody will laugh long who deals much with opium: its pleasures even are of a grave and solemn compl...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Whereas wine disorders the mental faculties, opium introduces amongst them the most exquisite order,...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Allow me to offer my congratulations on the truly admirable skill you have shown in keeping clear of...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
If once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think little of robbing; and from ro...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Even imperfection itself may have its ideal or perfect state
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Paint me an eternal tea-pot, for I usually drink tea from eight o'clock at night to four o'clock in ...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
It was a Sunday afternoon, wet and cheerless; and a duller spectacle this earth of ours has not to s...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
There is first the literature of KNOWLEDGE, and secondly, the literature of POWER. The function of t...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Everlasting farewells! and again, and yet again reverberated - everlasting farewells!
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
But my way of writing is rather to think aloud, and follow my own humours, than much to consider who...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Not the Opium-eater, but the opium, is the true hero of the tale, and the legitimate centre on which...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Oh! just, subtle, and mighty opium! that to the hearts of poor and rich alike, for the wounds that w...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
I question whether any Turk, of all that have entered the Paradise of Opium-eaters, can have had hal...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Turkish opium-eaters, it seems, are absurd enough to sit, like so many equestrian statues, on logs o...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
The silence was more profound than that of midnight; and to me the silence of a summer morning is mo...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
For my own part, without breach of truth or modesty, I may affirm that my life has been, on the whol...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Nothing, indeed, is more revolting to English feelings than the spectacle of a human being obtruding...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
I ran into pagodas, and was fixed for centuries at the summit or in secret rooms: I was the idol; I ...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
The opium-eater loses none of his moral sensibilities or aspirations.  He wishes and longs as earne...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Infirmity and misery do not of necessity imply guilt.
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
I do not readily believe that any man having once tasted the divine luxuries of opium will afterward...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
A long, loud, and canorous peal of laughter.
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
The immediate occasion of this practice was the lowness of wages, which at that time would not allow...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Prophet of evil I ever am to myself: forced for ever into sorrowful auguries that I have no power to...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
Ideas! There is no occasion for them; all that class of ideas which can be available in such a case ...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
The town of L— represented the earth, with its sorrows and its graves left behind, yet not out of ...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
If in this world there is one misery having no relief, it is the pressure on the heart from the Inco...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
here was the secret of happiness, about which philosophers had disputed for so many ages, at once di...
THOMAS DE QUINCEY
And see ye not that braid braid road
That lies across that lily leven?
That is the path of...
THOMAS THE RHYMER (BALLAD)
For my generation, the bomber jacket is like a replacement for the suit jacket. It's a piece tha...
THE WEEKND
I'm the most boring person to talk to.
THE WEEKND
Fish die when they are out of water, and people die without law and order.
THE TALMUD
He who promises runs in debt.
THE TALMUD
For me, bomber jackets are smart, but they are also street and have a lot of attitude.
THE WEEKND
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not ...
THE BIBLE
Who is a wise man? He who learns of all men.
THE TALMUD
Who is wise? One who learns from all.
THE TALMUD
The end result of wisdom is... good deeds.
THE TALMUD
Starting a band is the easy part. Once you've formed the band, you have to tell a story, and tha...
THE EDGE
Join the company of lions rather than assume the lead among foxes.
THE TALMUD
No labor, however humble, is dishonoring.
THE TALMUD
If one man says to thee, Thou art a donkey, pay no heed. If two speak thus, purchase a saddle.
THE TALMUD
Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, grow, grow.
THE TALMUD
This is the punishment of a liar: he is not believed, even when he speaks the truth.
THE TALMUD
Prayer carries us half way to God, fasting brings us to the door of His palace, and alms-giving proc...
THE KORAN
When you teach your son, you teach your son's son.
THE TALMUD
This is the sum of all -- righteousness. In causing pleasure or in giving pain, in doing good or inj...
THE MAHABHARTA
The sun will set without thy assistance.
THE TALMUD
A person will be called to account on Judgment Day for every permissible thing he might have enjoyed...
THE TALMUD
Thy friend has a friend, and thy friend's friend has a friend; be discreet.
THE TALMUD
Everyone whose deeds are more than his wisdom, his wisdom endures; and everyone whose wisdom is more...
THE TALMUD
Loving kindness is greater than laws; and the charities of life are more than all ceremonies.
THE TALMUD
The deeper the sorrow the less the tongue has it.
THE TALMUD
A quotation at the right moment is like bread to the famished.
THE TALMUD
To break an oral agreement which is not legally binding is morally wrong
THE TALMUD
Man has three friends on whose company he relies. First, wealth - which goes with him only while goo...
THE TALMUD
Join the company of lions rather than assume the lead among foxes.
THE TALMUD
The doctrines of religion are resolved into carefulness; carefulness into vigorousness; vigorousnes...
THE TALMUD
Greater even than the pious man is he who eats that which is the fruit of his own toil; for scriptur...
THE TALMUD
Sin is sweet in the beginning, but bitter in the end.
THE TALMUD
A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
THE BIBLE
Know Ye not ... that the spirit of God dwelleth within you?
THE BIBLE
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.
THE BIBLE
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ru...
THE BIBLE
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. The words of a wise ma...
THE BIBLE
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
THE BIBLE
Strength and honor are her clothing: and she shall rejoice in time to come.
THE BIBLE
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom...
THE BIBLE
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way, a...
THE BIBLE
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are ...
THE BIBLE
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
THE BIBLE
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
THE BIBLE
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
THE BIBLE
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of...
THE BIBLE
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall pre...
THE BIBLE
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their...
THE BIBLE
The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Wisdom is...
THE BIBLE
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou cri...
THE BIBLE
Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
THE BIBLE
Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
THE BIBLE
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
THE BIBLE
There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged...
THE BIBLE
And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great te...
THE BIBLE
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see t...
THE BIBLE
He who works his land will have abundant food.
THE BIBLE
God helps those who persevere.
THE KORAN
Live well. It is the greatest revenge.
THE TALMUD
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords...
THE BIBLE
The highest form of wisdom is kindness
THE TALMUD
The burden is equal to the horse's strength.
THE TALMUD
Be eager to fulfill the smallest duty and flee from transgression for one duty includes another and ...
THE TALMUD
Beware of too much laughter, for it deadens the mind and produces oblivion.
THE TALMUD
Sheep follow sheep.
THE TALMUD
Live well. It is the greatest revenge.
THE TALMUD
When you're traveling constantly, every day you become inspired, and it shows in my work, sonica...
THE WEEKND
This is our world now... the world of the electron and the switch, the beauty of the baud. We make u...
THE MENTOR
For an Ethiopian mother, if you have a chubby kid, it means you're doing something good.
THE WEEKND
The Joker that Christopher Nolan created in 'The Dark Knight' had the scar across his mouth,...
THE WEEKND
'Trilogy' was more of a claustrophobic body of work. Before it was released, I hadn't le...
THE WEEKND
The big cop-out would be to accept popularity rather than opting to try to create potent work. It...
THE EDGE
It wasn’t that everything was going my way, but I began to believe that the way it was going was p...
THE HIPPIE
Take that rage, put it on a page, take the page to the stage, blow the roof off the place.
THE SCRIPT
It was strange that in some sort of Jeffrey Dahmer meets Ghandi way I was
able to love myself f...
THE HIPPIE
I don't think I'd ever apologise for music I make, no.
THE WEEKND
My closet is like Bart Simpson's.
THE WEEKND
I knew the second I finished the first record - 'House Of Balloons' - and had all this mater...
THE WEEKND
Prince turned experimental music into pop music. 'When Doves Cry,' the whole 'Purple Rai...
THE WEEKND
'House of Balloons' was special because I had no deadlines, and nobody knew me, so there wer...
THE WEEKND
Fate chooses our relatives, we choose our friends.
THE TALMUD
Policeman says, "Son you can't stay here"
I said, "There's someone I'm waiting for if it's a da...
THE SCRIPT
All religions, in their pure form, will tell you God is Love. And power, fear, division, judgment, o...
THE TRUTH
'Kiss Land' wasn't about what people wanted to hear on the radio. It was the state of mi...
THE WEEKND
The caterpillar turns to liquid before turning into a butterfly. Liquid. Thus washing away any speck...
THE HIPPIE
Man has three friends on whose company he relies. First, wealth which goes with him only while good ...
THE TALMUD
He who carries out one good deed acquires one advocate in his own behalf, and he who commits one tra...
THE TALMUD
Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.
THE DHAMMAPADA
She's leaving home after living alone for so many years.
THE BEATLES
How many pens are broken, how many ink bottles consumed, to write about things that have never happe...
THE TALMUD
You can educate a fool, but you cannot make him think
THE TALMUD
If one speaks or acts with a cruel mind, misery follows, as the cart follows the horse... If one spe...
THE DHAMMAPADA
Whoever destroys a single life is as guilty as though he had destroyed the entire world; and whoever...
THE TALMUD
Who can protest and does not, is an accomplice in the act.
THE TALMUD
Until a child is one year old it is incapable of sin.
THE TALMUD
Never expose yourself unnecessarily to danger; a miracle may not save you...and if it does, it will ...
THE TALMUD
Learning is achieved only in company.
THE TALMUD
Humor the sons of the poor, for they give science its splendor.
THE TALMUD
Hold no man responsible for what he says in his grief.
THE TALMUD
He that gives should never remember, he that receives should never forget.
THE TALMUD
God said: you must teach, as I taught, without a fee.
THE TALMUD
For the sake of peace one may lie, but peace itself should never be a lie.
THE TALMUD
Customs are more powerful than laws.
THE TALMUD
Say not, when I have leisure I will study; you may not have leisure.
THE MISHNAH
Pregnancy is barbaric. … The husband's guilty waning of sexual desire, the woman's tears in fr...
THE CHILDREN
We played great, ... it's just Hilton Head is tough.
THE EAGLES
Please don't wake me, no don't shake me, leave me where I am, I'm only sleeping
THE BEATLES
I just want to keep pushing the envelope without it feeling forced.
THE WEEKND
The whole 'enigmatic artist' thing, I just ran with it.
THE WEEKND
I was very camera shy. People like hot girls, so I put my music to hot girls and it just became a tr...
THE WEEKND
Just for the record, we never broke up. We just took a fourtee year vacation.
THE EAGLES
This is the only way we can deal with it, ... We have to be proactive.
THE JERUSALEM
The day is short, the labor long, the workers are idle, and reward is great, and the Master is urgen...
THE TALMUD
Both teams kept it close to the vest,
THE EAGLES
I don't want to paint myself into a corner,'' he said.
THE ARCHIVES
I didn't have a father figure in the house.
THE WEEKND
He who promises runs in debt
THE TALMUD
they felt it wasn't egalitarian enough.
THE JERUSALEM
I was 14, and I fell in love with Pink Floyd.
THE WEEKND
Those who have high thoughts are ever striving; they are not happy to remain in the same place. Like...
THE DHAMMAPADA
Grace is great because of his grave.
THE INSPIRATIONIST
Out of the grave, we are brave to receive grace.
THE INSPIRATIONIST
Day In the Life
THE BEATLES
Jazz came out of New Orleans, and that was the forerunner of everything. You mix jazz with European ...
THE EDGE
There is no pity for a man who moans about living in one town and does not move to another.
THE TALMUD
defending the religious freedom of Christians.
THE FOUNDATION
Going home helps the content.
THE WEEKND
City girls just seem to find out earlyHow to open doors with just a smile.
THE EAGLES
Time passes and you must move onHalf the distance takes you twice as longSo you keep on singing for ...
THE EAGLES
You can see the stars and still not see the light.
THE EAGLES
Do not attempt to confute a lion after he's dead
THE TALMUD
'Kiss Land' is the story after 'Trilogy'; it's pretty much the second chapter of...
THE WEEKND
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
THE BIBLE
I beheld the trappings of upper-middle-class comfort. The big-screen TV and VCR. The crush of name-b...
THE CHILDREN
not-so-subtle reminder that there was creativity before silicon chips. Creativity doesn't live in ma...
THE COMMITTEE
No suffering befalls the man who calls nothing his own.
THE DHAMAPADA
Thy friend has a friend, and thy friend's friend has a friend; be discreet
THE TALMUD
But tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun
THE BEATLES
The moment of impact. The moment of impact proves potential for change. Has ripples effects far beyo...
THE VOW
In the beginning, I was very insecure. I hated how I looked in pictures.
THE WEEKND
I don't believe in icons.
THE WEEKND
I want to be remembered as iconic and different.
THE WEEKND
He whose wisdom exceeds his works, to what may he be likened? To a tree whose branches are numerous ...
THE TALMUD
because it lures women in with a marketing scheme that purports feminism, when in actuality the sole...
THE BRAVERY
the only town in the United States of that name!
THE BRAVERY
We are anticipating a good number of people will be applying for permits, so we want to make sure we...
THE BRAVERY
Well, once again, my friend we find that science is a two-headed beast. One head is nice, it gives u...
THE TICK
Hey Jude, don't make it bad, take a sad song and make it better.
THE BEATLES
I and other rabbis are considering putting a cherem [ban] on any Jew that desecrates mosques or othe...
THE JERUSALEM
feels fine. It just got tweaked. They wanted to take precautions. We had a good cushion, so they jus...
THE VIKINGS
The question of Jerusalem has broad implications for the Islamic world, ... If we can reach agreemen...
THE JERUSALEM
[On Monday, Specter said it was] vindictive and inappropriate ... not a supporter of Terrell Owens.
THE EAGLES
You better have your chin-strap buckled, because they'll knock your head off.
THE VIKINGS
All that lives will press palms together in prayerful adoration of those who refuse to slaughter and...
THE TIRUKURAL
Silence (in court) may be equivalent to confession
THE TALMUD
That's not what I'd call condemnation,
THE JERUSALEM
Music is such a great communicator. It breaks down linguistic barriers, cultural barriers, it basica...
THE EDGE
I get naturally uncomfortable when I'm put under a magnifying glass.
THE WEEKND
Doubt cannot override a certainty
THE TALMUD
It's the hottest trend in New York, China, Indonesia and New Zealand,
THE TALMUD