Why did not somebody teach me the constellations, and make me at home in the starry heavens, which are always overhead, and which I don't half know to this day?
Thomas CarlyleWhat are your historical Facts still more your biographical Wilt thou know a man by stringing-together beadrolls of what thou namest Facts
Thomas CarlyleThat there should one man die ignorant who had capacity for knowledge, this I call a tragedy.
Thomas CarlyleIt is not to taste sweet things; but to do noble and true things, and vindicate himself under God's heaven as a God-made man, that the poorest son of Adam dimly longs. Show him the way of doing that, the dullest day-drudge kindles into a hero. They wrong man greatly who say he is to be seduced by ease. Difficulty, abnegation, martyrdom, death, are the allurements that act on the heart of man. Kindle the inner genial life of him, you have a flame that burns up all lower considerations.
Thomas Carlyle