James Vila Blake Quotes

#1. As anger is a passing storm, so it comes not gradually and with signs, but like a sudden sweep of wind or black squall.

James Vila Blake

#2. The greatness of common sense, and its title to reverence, appear in this, that it deals with vast complexity, that is, with the innumerable elements of a situation. Common sense discerns and judges a path through this knotted and tangled maze.

James Vila Blake

#3. An enemy will train us in watchfulness; for if he be wary to seize on every error and trip us, we shall be more heedful to expose nothing, and this will drive us to prudence and thoughtfulness.

James Vila Blake

#4. Luck, good or bad, is the invisible play of mind upon affairs, the effect of mental aptitudes and habits which are not in sight, but which work and bring forth their due issues.

James Vila Blake

#5. Meditation ... must be power of will and strength of attention, being like a flight to great heights wherein wings must be plied hard though joyfully.

James Vila Blake

#6. It is worth thought what kind of mind or condition or disposition is open to flattery; for poison would not be spread if the rats ate it not.

James Vila Blake

#7. When a great war has cut off the young men of a nation it never can be told thereafter what losses of scholars, poets, thinkers and great designers the country and the world have suffered.

James Vila Blake

#8. As anger is a passion, it is to be ruled; as it is a weak passion, he is weak who rules it not.

James Vila Blake

#9. Individuality in opinion, or, what is more, in thinking, is simply one with thinking at all; for he who thinks thereby looks at the thing or the fact itself and takes its measure by observation directly, not content with the measures of others.

James Vila Blake

#10. Common sense is so just an understanding that it rises almost to a virtue; in truth, it involves virtues and their participation in judgment. For sound sense implies all powers uniting; none too prominent, so as to tyrannize; none too small, so as to be overborne.

James Vila Blake

#11. As but a swift glance is enough to catch the glory of a great landscape, or only a little lingering is necessary to observe many peculiar beauties in it, so but a brief turn of the mind to sublime thoughts will give us their light and power.

James Vila Blake

#12. This is our great covenant:
To dwell together in peace,
To seek the truth in love,
And to help one another.

James Vila Blake

#13. We have great power to see the truth when the truth is all we wish to see; but what is easier than to credit what we desire? and can a man deceive anyone so easily as himself?

James Vila Blake