All Mark Van Doren Quotes
- Wit is the only wall between us and the dark. Dark
- To be what no one ever was, to be what everyone has been: Freedom is the mean of those extremes that fence all effort in. All
- Nothing in man is more serious than his sense of humor; it is the sign that he wants all the truth. All
- To fail to love is not to exist at all. All
- Respect for the Truth is an acquired taste. Acquired
- The literature of the world has exerted its power by being translated. Exerted
- I have always had the greatest respect for students. There is nothing I hate more than condescension—the attitude that they are inferior to you. I… Always Assume
- Bring ideas in and entertain them royally, for one of them may be the king. Bring
- An unexamined idea, to paraphrase Socrates, is not worth having and a society whose ideas are never explored for possible error may eventually find its… Error
- If you look around the table and you can't tell who the sucker is, it's you. Inspirational
- The art of reading is the art of adopting the pace the author has set. Some books are fast and some are slow, but no… Adopting
- When it aims to express a love of the world it refuses to conceal the many reasons why the world is hard to love, though… Aim
- Our best chance for happiness is education. Best
- It’s a curious thing. I suppose most people think of artists as impatient but I don’t know of any first-rate artist who hasn’t manifested in… Any
- A classic is a book that remains in print Book
- Weightless in water, swift as the wind, Subtle of purpose - a feather blown - I go with my oarsmen where they will, My beautiful… All
- Memory performs the impossible for man; holds together past and present, gives continuity and dignity to human life. Continuity
- Wisdom before experience is only words; wisdom after experience is of no avail. Avail
- There is no appeal from the ways of the world, which must continue on its own terms or take us all down with it into… All
- There are two statements about human beings that are true: that all human beings are alike, and that all are different. On those two facts… Alike