Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Quotes
Most popular Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Quotes
![Every idea is an incitement. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/94/33194A-every-idea-is-an-incitement-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Every idea is an incitement.
![Eloquence may set fire to reason. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/65/30065A-eloquence-may-set-fire-to-reason-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Eloquence may set fire to reason.
![Don't be 'consistent,' but be simply true. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/67/19567A-dont-be-consistent-but-be-simply-true-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Don't be 'consistent,' but be simply true.
![Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/98/34798A-life-is-painting-a-picture-not-doing-sum-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Life is painting a picture, not doing a sum.
![Every calling is great when greatly pursued. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/18/4118A-every-calling-is-great-when-greatly-pursued-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Every calling is great when greatly pursued.
![A page of history is worth a volume of logic. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/58/23358A-a-page-of-history-is-worth-volume-logic-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
A page of history is worth a volume of logic.
![Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/82/40682A-taxes-are-what-we-pay-for-civilized-society-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society.
![The Earth has music for those who will listen. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/33/10133A-the-earth-has-music-for-those-who-will-listen-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
The Earth has music for those who will listen.
![Everywhere the basis of principle is tradition. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/92/2492A-everywhere-the-basis-of-principle-is-tradition-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Everywhere the basis of principle is tradition.
![The only prize much cared for by the powerful is power. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/59/8259A-the-only-prize-much-cared-for-by-powerful-is-power-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
The only prize much cared for by the powerful is power.
![The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/35/8535A-the-life-of-the-law-has-not-been-logic-it-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
The life of the law has not been logic; it has been experience.
![To think great thoughts you must be heroes, as well as idealists. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/34/4734A-to-think-great-thoughts-you-must-be-heroes-as-well-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
To think great thoughts you must be heroes, as well as idealists.
![Historic continuity with the past is not a duty, it is only a necessity. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/38/23338A-historic-continuity-with-the-past-is-not-duty-it-is-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Historic continuity with the past is not a duty, it is only a necessity.
![To have doubted one's own first principles is the mark of a civilized man. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/79/12779A-to-have-doubted-ones-own-first-principles-is-mark-civilized-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
To have doubted one's own first principles is the mark of a civilized man.
![Speak clearly if you speak at all; Carve every word before you let if fall. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/38/5238A-speak-clearly-if-you-speak-at-all-carve-every-word-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Speak clearly if you speak at all; Carve every word before you let if fall.
![Nothing can be so perfect while we possess it as it will seem when remembered. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/50/37850A-nothing-can-be-so-perfect-while-we-possess-it-as-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Nothing can be so perfect while we possess it as it will seem when remembered.
![The root of joy, as of duty, is to put all one's powers towards some great end. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/35/34035A-the-root-of-joy-as-of-duty-is-put-all-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
The root of joy, as of duty, is to put all one's powers towards some great end.
![A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/89/50789A-a-mind-that-is-stretched-by-new-experience-can-never-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.
![Certitude is not the test of certainty. We have been cocksure of many things that were not so. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/88/27788A-certitude-is-not-the-test-of-certainty-we-have-been-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Certitude is not the test of certainty. We have been cocksure of many things that were not so.
![We all, whether we know it or not, are fighting to make the kind of a world that we should like. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/04/10804A-we-all-whether-we-know-it-or-not-are-fighting-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
We all, whether we know it or not, are fighting to make the kind of a world that we should like.
![If I could think that I had sent a spark to those who come after I should be ready to say Goodbye. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/77/54077A-if-i-could-think-that-i-had-sent-spark-those-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
If I could think that I had sent a spark to those who come after I should be ready to say Goodbye.
![Longing for certainty and for repose . . . is in every human mind. But certainty generally is illusion, and repose is not the destiny of man. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/87/27787A-longing-for-certainty-and-for-repose-is-every-human-mind-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
Longing for certainty and for repose . . . is in every human mind. But certainty generally is illusion, and repose is not the destiny of man.
![A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged, it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used. - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. quote.](/img/q/19/42219A-a-word-is-not-a-crystal-transparent-unchanged-it-is-oliver-wendell-holmes-jr.png)
A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged, it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and the time in which it is used.