After over fifty years of varied reading the Liberal party leader Viscount Samuel (1870 -1963) collected around a thousand quotations for his own use. In 1947 the Cresset Press decided to publish about half of these arranged under several heads. We at Jot HQ were sufficiently impressed by the noble lord’s wide reading and discernment to select what we feel were some of the most perceptive of these pieces of wisdom.

It seems to me that we all look at nature too much, and live with her too little.
OSCAR WILDE

The question of common-sense is always “ What is it good for?”—-a question which would abolish the rose and be answered triumphantly by the cabbage.
J.R.LOWELL

Keats is an example of literature untouched by science
A.N.WHITEHEAD

It is just when ideas are lacking that a phrase is most welcome
GOETHE

Of what use is freedom of thought if it will not produce freedom of action?
JONATHAN SWIFT

Absence of occupation is not rest.
WILLIAM COWPER

Great learning and great shallowness go together very well under one hat.
F.W.NIETZSCHE

The depths of the fathomless loyalty that is in the heart of the dog.
LORD DUNSANY

Crime is the anti-social form of the struggle for existence
ENRICO FERRI

No, Sir; we had talk enough, but no conversation; there was nothing
discussed.
Dr SAMUEL JOHNSON Continue reading →