James Geary Quotes

In spite of his practical ability, some of his experience had petrified into maxims and quotations.

Witty inspirations are the proverbs of the educated.

I prefer sayings over jokes.

I'd lived by quotations, practically all my life.

The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages are preserved by quotations.

The great writers of aphorisms read as if they had all known each other well.

What is all wisdom save a collection of platitudes?

I collect axioms, paradoxes, maxims, teaching stories, proverbs, and aphorisms of all sorts, because I love to see complex ideas distilled into a few words.

The nice thing about quotes is that they give us a nodding acquaintance with the originator which is often socially impressive.

Don't you go believing in sayings … they are all made by men, for their own advantages.

Anecdotes and maxims are rich treasures to the man of the world, for he knows how to introduce the former at fit place in conversation.

Maxims are sharp-edged half-truths.

Proverbs are potted wisdom.

Aphorisms are the true form of the universal philosophy.

Maxims are the condensed good sense of nations.

Proverbs are always platitudes until you have personally experienced the truth of them.

Proverbs are mental gems gathered in the diamond fields of the mind.

Proverbs may not improperly be called the philosophy of the common people.

The wise make proverbs, and fools repeat them.

The excellence of aphorisms consists not so much in the expression of some rare or abstruse sentiment, as in the comprehension of some useful truth in a few words.

There are plenty of maxims in the world; all that remains is to apply them.

Apothegms form a short cut to much knowledge.

Apothegms are the wisdom of the past condensed for the instruction and guidance of the present.

The wisdom of nations lies in their proverbs, which are brief and pithy. Collect and learn them; they are notable measures of directions for human life; you have much in little; they save time in speaking; and upon occasion may be the fullest and safest answer.