Thomas Carlyle Quotes about Writing

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There is a great discovery still to be made in literature, that of paying literary men by the quantity they do not write.

There is a great discovery still to be made in literature, that of paying literary men by the quantity they do not write.

Thomas Carlyle

Writing, Men, Discovery

John Stuart Mill, Thomas Carlyle (2010). “Autobiography of J.S. Mill & on Liberty; Characteristics, Inaugural Address at Edinburgh & Sir Walter Scott”, p.413, Cosimo, Inc.

The best effect of any book is that it excites the reader to self activity.

Thomas Carlyle

Book, Reading, Writing

Writing is a dreadful labor, yet not so dreadful as Idleness.

Thomas Carlyle

Writing, Labor, Idleness

Thomas Carlyle, G. B. Tennyson (1984). “Carlyle Reader”, p.16, CUP Archive

Oblivion is the dark page, whereon Memory writes her light-beam characters, and makes them legible; were it all light, nothing could be read there, any more than if it were all darkness.

Thomas Carlyle

Memories, Writing, Character

Thomas Carlyle, Chris Vanden Bossche (2002). “Historical Essays”, p.20, Univ of California Press

He who would write heroic poems should make his whole life a heroic poem.

Thomas Carlyle

Life, Writing, Heroic

Thomas Carlyle (1857). “Life of Friedrich Schiller (1825): Life of John Sterling (1851)”, p.37

O thou who art able to write a book which once in the two centuries or oftener there is a man gifted to do, envy not him whom they name city-builder, and inexpressibly pity him whom they name conqueror or city-burner.

Thomas Carlyle

Art, Book, Writing

Thomas Carlyle, Rodger L. Tarr, Mark Engel (2000). “Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh in Three Books”, p.129, Univ of California Press

Considering the multitude of mortals that handle the pen in these days, and can mostly spell, and write without glaring violations of grammar, the question naturally arises: How is it, then, that no work proceeds from them, bearing any stamp of authenticity and permanence; of worth for more than one day?

Thomas Carlyle

Writing, One Day, Authenticity

Thomas Carlyle (1872). “Works”, p.63

O thou who art able to write a Book, which once in the two centuries or oftener there is a man gifted to do, envy not him whom they name City-builder, and inexpressibly pity him whom they name Conqueror or City-burner! Thou too art a Conqueror and Victor; but of the true sort, namely over the Devil: thou too hast built what will outlast all marble and metal, and be a wonder-bringing City of the Mind, a Temple and Seminary and Prophetic Mount, whereto all kindreds of the Earth will pilgrim.

Thomas Carlyle

Art, Book, Writing

Thomas Carlyle, Rodger L. Tarr, Mark Engel (2000). “Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh in Three Books”, p.129, Univ of California Press