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Samuel Butler Quotes

75 Thought-Provoking Samuel Butler Quotes That Will Change The Way You Think

Famous As: Novelist

Born On: 1835

Died On: 1902

Born In: Langar, Nottinghamshire, England

Died At Age: 66

Samuel Butler was a Victorian era English author who rose to prominence in the 19th century with his works, many of which challenged the deeply held views at the time. Butler studied at Shrewsbury School and then acquired a degree in the classics from Cambridge University in 1858. His father wanted him to be a clergyman but Butler did not want to go along that path and emigrated to New Zealand in order to get away from it all. That is how his literary career commenced and one of his earlier works was an autobiographical take on his life in New Zealand, titled ‘A First Year in Canterbury Settlement’. Butler had also written his view on Christianity in the book ‘The Fair Haven’. Butler’s most important work was the satirical novel ‘Erewhon’ that depicted a Utopian society and turned him into a well-known literary figure after its publication. His other great contribution was the English translation of Greek epics ‘Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’ into prose form. The below collection of Samuel Butler’s most famous quotes have been excerpted from his writings, books, prose and thoughts. We bring to you a collection of sayings and quotes by Samuel Butler on times, truth, inspiration, existence, logic, sword, rationalism, forgiveness, books and poems.

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Writers

Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule.

Life is like music, it must be composed by ear, feeling and instinct, not by rule.
Life Like Music
Samuel Butler

The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too.

The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too.
You Yourself Will
Samuel Butler

Books are like imprisoned souls till someone takes them down from a shelf and frees them.

Books are like imprisoned souls till someone takes them down from a shelf and frees them.
Like Books
Samuel Butler

Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.

Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.
Samuel Butler

Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.

Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.
Samuel Butler

All animals except man know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it.

All animals except man know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it.
Life Business
Samuel Butler

Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.

Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.
Money Like
Samuel Butler

Don't learn to do, but learn in doing.
Samuel Butler

Life is one long process of getting tired.

Life is one long process of getting tired.
Life
Samuel Butler

We all love best not those who offend us least, nor those who have done most for us, but those who make it most easy for us to forgive them.

We all love best not those who offend us least, nor those who have done most for us, but those who make it most easy for us to forgive them.
Love
Samuel Butler

An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all the books.

An apology for the devil: it must be remembered that we have heard one side of the case. God has written all the books.
God Books
Samuel Butler

Life is like playing the violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.

Life is like playing the violin in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.
Life Like Learning
Samuel Butler

Prayers are to men as dolls are to children.

Prayers are to men as dolls are to children.
Children
Samuel Butler

Sensible people get the greater part of their own dying done during their own lifetime

Sensible people get the greater part of their own dying done during their own lifetime
Samuel Butler

We pay a person the compliment of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to them.

We pay a person the compliment of acknowledging his superiority whenever we lie to them.
Samuel Butler

Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.

Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.
Music
Samuel Butler

To live is like to love--all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it

To live is like to love--all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it
Like
Samuel Butler

Logic is like the sword--those who appeal to it shall perish by it.

Logic is like the sword--those who appeal to it shall perish by it.
Like
Samuel Butler

The oldest books are still only just out to those who have not read them.

The oldest books are still only just out to those who have not read them.
Books
Samuel Butler

Silence is not always tact and it is tact that is golden, not silence.

Silence is not always tact and it is tact that is golden, not silence.
Samuel Butler

If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do.

If we attend continually and promptly to the little that we can do, we shall ere long be surprised to find how little remains that we cannot do.
Samuel Butler

They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, 'Can he name a kitten?

They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say, 'Can he name a kitten?
Power I
Samuel Butler

[P]oetry resembles metaphysics: one does not mind one's own, but one does not like anyone else's.

[P]oetry resembles metaphysics: one does not mind one's own, but one does not like anyone else's.
Like
Samuel Butler

Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises.

Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises.
Life Art
Samuel Butler

Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only.

Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only.
Samuel Butler

Books want to be born: I never make them. They come to me and insist on being written, and on being such and such.

Books want to be born: I never make them. They come to me and insist on being written, and on being such and such.
Me Never Books I
Samuel Butler

A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg.

A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg.
Samuel Butler

I do not mind lying, but I hate inaccuracy.

I do not mind lying, but I hate inaccuracy.
I
Samuel Butler

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.
You Yourself Will
Samuel Butler