Washington Irving

Washington Irving

26 quotes

Washington Irving, an American writer, historian, and diplomat, is widely remembered for insights that continue to resonate with readers everywhere. The range of their thinking — from Love to Age — speaks to an intellectual restlessness that shows in every quote. Our collection holds 29 quotes from Washington Irving, each offering a different angle on Love, Age, Women, War, and Sympathy. Among their most shared lines: "He is the true enchanter, whose spell operates, not upon the senses, but upon the imagination and the heart."

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“Who ever hears of fat men heading a riot, or herding together in turbulent mobs? No - no, your lean, hungry men who are continually worrying society, and setting the whole community by the ears.”

— Washington Irving

Society

All Quotes by Washington Irving

“There is never jealousy where there is not strong regard.”

— Washington Irving

Jealousy

“An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather.”

— Washington Irving

Good

“Marriage is the torment of one, the felicity of two, the strife and enmity of three.”

— Washington Irving

Marriage

“He is the true enchanter, whose spell operates, not upon the senses, but upon the imagination and the heart.”

— Washington Irving

Imagination

“The natural effect of sorrow over the dead is to refine and elevate the mind.”

— Washington Irving

Sympathy

“A woman's whole life is a history of the affections.”

— Washington Irving

History

“Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, shall win my love.”

— Washington Irving

Women

“The natural principle of war is to do the most harm to our enemy with the least harm to ourselves and this of course is to be effected by stratagem.”

— Washington Irving

War

“Those men are most apt to be obsequious and conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home.”

— Washington Irving

Home

“A tart temper never mellows with age, and a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.”

— Washington Irving

Age

“One of the greatest and simplest tools for learning more and growing is doing more.”

— Washington Irving

Learning

“Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.”

— Washington Irving

Friendship

“Honest good humor is the oil and wine of a merry meeting, and there is no jovial companionship equal to that where the jokes are rather small and laughter abundant.”

— Washington Irving

Humor

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.”

— Washington Irving

Love

“Who ever hears of fat men heading a riot, or herding together in turbulent mobs? No - no, your lean, hungry men who are continually worrying society, and setting the whole community by the ears.”

— Washington Irving

Society

“A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.”

— Washington Irving

Smile

“Young lawyers attend the courts, not because they have business there, but because they have no business.”

— Washington Irving

Business

“Temper never mellows with age, and a sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.”

— Washington Irving

Age

“Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortune but great minds rise above them.”

— Washington Irving

Great

“Acting provides the fulfillment of never being fulfilled. You're never as good as you'd like to be. So there's always something to hope for.”

— Washington Irving

Hope