Inspirational Quotes

Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.

Edgar Allan Poe Quotes

Appreciation Constructive Criticism Guidance Inspiration The generous Critic fann'd the Poet's fire, And taught the world with reason to admire.

Creativity Evaluation Merit Popularity Talent There are few cases in which mere popularity should be considered a proper test of merit; but the case of song-writing is, I think, one of the few.

Expectation Happiness Man's real life is happy, chiefly because he is ever expecting that it soon will be so.

Courage Doubt Dream Fear Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before.

Dismissal Of Explanations Elevation Freedom From Constraints Overcoming Weakness Transcendence I am above the weakness of seeking to establish a sequence of cause and effect, between the disaster and the atrocity.

Aesthetic Experience Beauty Development Emotion Sensitivity Beauty of whatever kind, in its supreme development, invariably excites the sensitive soul to tears.

Abundance Accessibility Simplicity Truth It is the nature of truth in general, as of some ores in particular, to be richest when most superficial.

Misconception Stupidity Stupidity is a talent for misconception.

Creativity Judgment Puns Talent Of puns it has been said that those who most dislike them are those who are least able to utter them.

Humility Integrity Self Sacrifice Unselfish Love There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a brute, which goes directly to the heart of him who has had frequent occasion to test the paltry friendship and gossamer fidelity of mere Man.

Authenticity Courage Fear That man is not truly brave who is afraid either to seem or to be, when it suits him, a coward.

Art Creativity Interpretation Nature Were I called on to define, very briefly, the term Art, I should call it 'the reproduction of what the Senses perceive in Nature through the veil of the soul.' The mere imitation, however accurate, of what is in Nature, entitles no man to the sacred name of 'Artist.'

Analysis Creativity Imagination It will be found, in fact, that the ingenious are always fanciful, and the truly imaginative never otherwise than analytic.

Existence Future Perspective Reality It is by no means an irrational fancy that, in a future existence, we shall look upon what we think our present existence, as a dream.

Horror Impression Perception Power of Words Reality Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.

Awareness Daydreaming Insight They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.

Discretion Excellence Perfection Wisdom The true genius shudders at incompleteness - and usually prefers silence to saying something which is not everything it should be.

Insight Perception Truth Experience has shown, and a true philosophy will always show, that a vast, perhaps the larger portion of the truth arises from the seemingly irrelevant.

Existence Illusion Impermanence Reality All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.

Cynicism I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.

Courage Impartiality Integrity Justice Resolve In criticism I will be bold, and as sternly, absolutely just with friend and foe. From this purpose nothing shall turn me.

Boundaries Death Life Mystery The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?

Action Determination Dream Progress The ninety and nine are with dreams, content but the hope of the world made new, is the hundredth man who is grimly bent on making those dreams come true.

Courage Fear Resilience Risk I have, indeed, no abhorrence of danger, except in its absolute effect - in terror.

Art Elevation Inspiration Soul Value I need scarcely observe that a poem deserves its title only inasmuch as it excites, by elevating the soul. The value of the poem is in the ratio of this elevating excitement.

Charity Conscience Morality Religion A strong argument for the religion of Christ is this - that offences against Charity are about the only ones which men on their death-beds can be made - not to understand - but to feel - as crime.

Basics Creativity Language Literature Poetry The rudiment of verse may, possibly, be found in the spondee.

Cognition Irony Memory Paradox If you wish to forget anything on the spot, make a note that this thing is to be remembered.

Reflection Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary.

Beauty Creation Poetry Rhythm I would define, in brief, the poetry of words as the rhythmical creation of Beauty.