E. W. Howe Quotes

We need realism to deal with reality.

Common sense is the measure of the possible.

Common sense does not ask an impossible chessboard, but takes the one before it and plays the game.

A vague uncritical idealism always lends itself to ridicule and too much of it might be a danger to mankind, leading it round in a futile wild-goose chase for imaginary ideals.

Ground not upon dreams; you know they are ever contrary.

I'm a practical person. Most fashion people live in the clouds, and they're full of it. I live like a human being - or, I try to - and I have to be intelligent; I have to be practical. I'm a great believer in common sense, and the older I get, I see that common sense is not that common.

Common sense is calculation applied to life.

Religion needs a baptism of horse sense.

Show me a man with both feet on the ground and I'll show you a man who can't get his pants on.

The logic of words should yield to the logic of realities.

Intellectuals are too sentimental for me.

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.

There is nothing more uncommon than common sense.

Become reality driven. Don’t kid yourself or others.

We are a moderate, pragmatic people, more comfortable with practice than theory.

I guess I'm quite practical. Or at least like to think I am.

I'm pragmatic.

A close friend of mine described me as a radical pragmatist. I embrace this no-nonsense distinction wholeheartedly. It is a character trait that matches the sense of myself I've had from as far back as I can remember. I am not one who goes in much for magical thinking. I don't believe in destiny, fate, or things like divine guidance, either.

I kind of look at things from a very common-sense point of view.

I try to, pardon the expression, stay with my feet on the ground.

Why is it that common sense is seldom common practice?

I think I'm pragmatic.

The wisest man preaches no doctrines.

In matters of state, one has to be full of sentiments, but one can never be sentimental.

One has to view things realistically.