Top 15 Washington Irving Quotes

American writer, historian and diplomat (1783-1859)

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Washington Irving (3 April 1783 – 28 November 1859) was an American short story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century.

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Pen Names: Diedrich Knickerbocker • Geoffrey Crayon • Launcelot Langstaff

Alternative Names: Lauuncelot Langstaff

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There is a sacredness in tears....They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not a 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.

There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity; but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity.

Great minds have purpose, others have wishes. Little minds are tamed and subdued by misfortunes; but great minds rise above them.

I profess not to know how women's hearts are wooed and won. To me they have always been matters of riddle and admiration.

Love is never lost. If not reciprocated, it will flow back and soften and purify the heart.

Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.

All these, however, were mere terrors of the night, phantoms of the mind that walk in darkness; and though he had seen many spectres in his time, and been more than once beset by Satan in divers shapes, in his lonely pre-ambulations, yet daylight put an end to all these evils; and he would have passed a pleasent life of it, in despite of the devil and all his works, if his path had not been crossed by a being that causes more perplexity to mortal man than ghosts, goblins, and the whole race of witches put together, and that was - a woman.

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

Others may write from the head, but he writes from the heart, and the heart will always understand him.

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

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

There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse; as I have found in traveling in a stage coach, that it is often a comfort to shift one's position and be bruised in a new place.

Great minds have purposes, others have wishes.