Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

No families take so little medicine as those of doctors, except those of apothecaries.

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

What refuge is there for the victim who is oppressed with the feeling that there are a thousand new books he ought…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

Science is the topography of ignorance.

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

“My experience with public libraries is that the first volume of the book I inquire for is out, unless I happen to…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

“The great thing in this world, is not so much where we are, but in which direction we are moving.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

And if I should live to be The last leaf upon the tree In the spring, Let them smile, as I do…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

“Yet in opinions look not always back,-- Your wake is nothing, mind the coming track; Leave what you've done for what you…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

“The Last Leaf I saw him once before, As he passed by the door, And again The pavement stones resound, As he…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

Me wretched! Let me curr to quercine shades! Effund your albid hausts, lactiferous maids! O, might I vole to some umbrageous clump,--…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

Man is born a predestined idealist, for he is born to act. To act is to affirm the worth of an end,…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

“If the wild filly, "Progress," thou wouldst ride, Have young companions ever at thy side; But wouldst thou stride the stanch old…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall. A mother's secret love outlives them all.

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

“Have faith and pursue the unknown end.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

“A man's mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

The year is getting to feel rich, for his golden fruits are ripening fast, and he has a large balance in the…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

You may have genius. The contrary is, of course, probable.

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

Leverage is everything-don't begin to pry until you've got the long arm on your side.

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

Unpretending mediocrity is good, and genius is glorious; but a weak flavor of genius inan essentially common personis detestable. It spoils the…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

“Nothing is more common than the wish to be remarkable”

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

For nothing burns with such amazing speed, As the dry sticks of a religious creed.

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving—we…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

[Science is] piecemeal revelation.

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose by and by. Life is like…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr

The truth is that the whole system of beliefs which comes in with the story of the fall of man ... is…

— Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr