5 Teaching Quotes About Life From Great Writers

Words of wisdom and the truth they reveal

Though reading as an activity is gradually getting phased out, that doesn’t mean we can’t still take a lot from books.

You’d be surprised how much of the world we live in is influenced in some way by art — specifically literature — that’s come before us. One could even argue that a good deal of media and its presentation has been shaped by scribblers back in the day.

Just take this list of phrases that Shakespeare invented, phrases we use without a second thought that trace their roots back to the old bard and his pen (or quill, or whatever).

Without further ado, then, let’s dive right into some nuggets of knowledge from a handful of great historical figures.

“Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical and greedy of gain”

The word “Machiavellian” might ring a bell. It’s attributed to Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote a book called The Prince (Il Principe). Thematically, The Prince deals with cunning and gaining authority through deception, self-interest and fear.

While this may be a cynical view of humanity, it can serve as a reminder of the existence of evil. It’s not to claim we’re born evil. But it does suggest we’re all capable of evil, and that we shouldn’t be too secure in our naiveté to believe otherwise.

So next time you’re disappointed by the fickleness, hypocrisy or mercenary nature of your fellow human being, don’t be. It was already pointed out in the 15th century that this is a condition of being human.

“To generalize is to be an idiot”

Perhaps.

But to this William Blake maxim, C.S. Lewis said:

To generalize is to be a finite mind. Generalities are the lenses with which our intellects have to manage.

Whichever it is, generalizing is not something we should aspire to do.

William Blake is a household name to many, but in his time, he was virtually unknown (the fate of countless writers we now idolize). Blake was famous for his mysticism, which was often dismissed as madness.

Recommended Blake fare is Songs of Innocence and Experience, a collection of poems concerned with innocence (the “unfallen world”) and experience (the “fallen world”).

As for generalizing in particular, the upshot is this:

To peer beneath the surface and strive for the uncovering of Truth.

“It is never too late to be what you might have been”

George Eliot isn’t the star Charles Dickens was and still is, but she didn’t fail to catch his attention. Her writing is defined by realism, a reason the ending to her landmark novel Middlemarch is not universally happy or disappointing.

Virginia Woolf called it “one of the few English novels written for grownup people”, an opinion that’s been echoed the world over.

But what about becoming someone when, seemingly, your time’s come and gone?

Two big names that did it are Hollywood’s Samuel L. Jackson and Marvel creator Stan Lee. Jackson didn’t get his breakthrough role until he was 43. Lee didn’t produce his first comic until he was nearly 40.

So yes, you most certainly can. Age is but a number.

“One must dare to be happy”

Gertrude Stein collected paintings and rubbed elbows in her salon with Picasso, Hemingway and Scott F. Fitzgerald. She also wrote Tender Buttons, cubism’s literary equivalent, in addition to other poems.

“Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose” is one of her more quoted lines.

She was successful in all her endeavors, including in her relationship with Alice B. Toklas which spanned about four decades, right up to Stein’s death.

From a quick examination of her life, we can infer she was correct. To be happy isn’t an automatic state of mind. It’s an achievement. It’s won, not given.

“Think of all the beauty still left around you and be happy”

Anne Frank was born in Germany but, because of growing antisemitism and an unstable economy, relocated with her family to The Netherlands. Nazi Germany invaded The Netherlands in 1940, barring Jews from certain activities (running their own business) and establishments (movie theaters, parks).

In time, Anne had to go into hiding, which was when she kept her diary. She was discovered by police and arrested in 1944. She was deported to Auschwitz shortly after, but didn’t last long in the labor camp. She contracted typhus and died in 1945.

For all the struggle she endured, she still was able to recognize the good around her. She never had it easy, but writing and her family were her comfort.

If she could maintain her optimism in the toughest of circumstances, so can we in ours.