Literature Quotes

Books change lives. Authors and readers reflect on the power of the written word.

12844 quotes

C
"One cannot live by bread alone; one needs a little poetry."
Cosimo de Medici
E
"Literature holds up a mirror to the human experience."
Edward Wotton
E
"Literature preserves what time seeks to destroy."
Edward Wotton
G
"The writer's pen can wound or heal, depending on his heart."
Girolamo Savonarola
E
"Literature preserves the wisdom and follies of ages past."
Edward Wotton
E
"To understand literature is to understand the human heart."
Edward Wotton
C
"Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life."
Cosimo de Medici
C
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
Cosimo de Medici
G
"The pages of literature reveal the human soul stripped of its pretenses."
Girolamo Savonarola
A
"The depths of literature reveal that human nature is unchanging in its essence, varied only in expression."
Agrippa Heinrich Cornelius
A
"Literature mirrors the soul of humanity back to itself, endlessly revealing new truths."
Agrippa Heinrich Cornelius
C
"The written word is immortal; the spoken word dies with the speaker."
Cosimo de Medici
E
"In literature, we find the distilled wisdom of the ages."
Edward Wotton
C
"Literature preserves the wisdom of ages for future generations."
Cosimo de Medici
G
"Literature captures the essence of human experience."
Giovan Battista della Porta
G
"Literature preserves the human soul."
Giovan Battista della Porta
G
"The written word has power to transform minds and awaken consciences."
Girolamo Savonarola
M
"Literature preserves the wisdom of the ages in forms that touch the human heart."
Matteo Ricci
M
"Literature connects us across time and space to the hearts of others."
Matteo Ricci
B
"Literature captures truth through narrative; science captures truth through observation."
Bernardino Telesio
P
"Literature preserves the wisdom of the past for those willing to listen."
Paracelsus
"Literature preserves the wisdom of ages."
Juan Luis Vives
"Literature gives voice to the voiceless."
Juan Luis Vives
C
"Literature preserves the wisdom of the ages."
Christine de Pizan
C
"Literature speaks across centuries to the human heart."
Christine de Pizan
G
"Literature attempts to capture what science measures exactly."
Giovan Battista della Porta
F
"To read good literature is to become acquainted with the best that has been known and thought."
Francesco Petrarch
F
"Writing is the painting of the voice."
Francesco Petrarch
M
"The written word carries the power to transform generations."
Matteo Ricci
"Literature preserves the wisdom of ages."
Gerolamo Cardano