John Lubbock > Quotes

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
― John Lubbock, The Use Of Life

“Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind. As the sun colors flowers, so does art color life.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“What we do see depends mainly on what we look for. ... In the same field the farmer will notice the crop, the geologists the fossils, botanists the flowers, artists the colouring, sportmen the cover for the game. Though we may all look at the same things, it does not all follow that we should see them.”
― John Lubbock, The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live in

“We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the earth.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“Our great mistake in education is, as it seems to me, the worship of book-learning–the confusion of instruction and education. We strain the memory instead of cultivating the mind. The children in our elementary schools are wearied by the mechanical act of writing, and the interminable intricacies of spelling; they are oppressed by columns of dates, by lists of kings and places, which convey no definite idea to their minds, and have no near relation to their daily wants and occupations; while in our public schools the same unfortunate results are produced by the weary monotony of Latin and Greek grammar. We ought to follow exactly the opposite course with children–to give them a wholesome variety of mental food, and endeavor to cultivate their tastes, rather than to fill their minds with dry facts. The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn. What does it matter if the pupil know a little more or a little less? A boy who leaves school knowing much, but hating his lessons, will soon have forgotten almost all he ever learned; while another who had acquired a thirst for knowledge, even if he had learned little, would soon teach himself more than the first ever knew.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“The whole value of solitude depends upon oneself; it may be a sanctuary or a prison, a haven of repose or a place of punishment, a heaven or a hell, as we ourselves make it.”
― John Lubbock, Peace and Happiness

“All those who love Nature she loves in return, and will richly reward, not perhaps with the good things, as they are commonly called, but with the best things of this world-not with money and titles, horses and carriages, but with bright and happy thoughts, contentment and peace of mind.”
― John Lubbock

“A day of worry is more exhausting than a week of work.”
― John Lubbock, The Use Of Life

“Happiness is a condition of mind not a result of circumstances.”
― Lord Avebury

“Don't be afraid of showing affection. Be warm and tender, thoughtful and affectionate. Men are more helped by sympathy than by service. Love is more than money, and a kind word will give more pleasure than a present.”
― Sir John Lubbock

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.”
― John Lubbock

“To lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
― John Lubbock

“Our duty is to believe that for which we have sufficient evidence, and to suspend our judgment when we have not.”
― John Lubbock, The Use Of Life

“If we are ever in doubt what to do, it is a good rule to ask ourselves what we shall wish on the morrow that we had done.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is wanting.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“We profit little by books we do not enjoy.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“I cannot, however, but think that the world would be better and brighter if our teachers would dwell on the Duty of Happiness as well as the Happiness of Duty; for we ought to be as cheerful as we can, if only because to be happy ourselves is a most effectual contribution to the happiness of others.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“When we have done our best, we should wait the result in peace.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“Our ambition should be to rule ourselves, the true kingdom for each one of us; and true progress is to know more, and be more, and to do more.”
― John Lubbock, The Use Of Life

“If we succeed in giving the love of learning, the learning itself is sure to follow.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for”
― John Lubbock

“A wise system of education will at least teach us how little man yet knows, how much he has still to learn.”
― John Lubbock, The Pleasures of Life

“To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being."- Biologist John Lubbock.”
― John Lubbock

“The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught as that every child should be given the wish to learn.”
― John Lubbock

“We may sit in our library and yet be in all quarters of the world.”
― John Lubbock