"All significant truths are private truths. As they become public they cease to become truths they become facts, or at best, part of the public character or at worst, catchwords."

Character

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Insight & Reflection

Words carry weight, and T. S. Eliot's insight into character is no exception. It serves as a gentle reminder that amidst the chaos of modern life, timeless wisdom still holds the power to guide our decisions and clarify our values.

About T. S. Eliot

Thomas Stearns Eliot was a poet, essayist and playwright. He was a leading figure of modernist poetry in the English language where he altered the art through his use of pessimistic language, writing style, and verse structure. Awarded the 1948 Nobel Prize in Literature, he is considered one of the greatest poets of the English language. He is also noted for his critical essays, which often re-evaluated long-held cultural beliefs.

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Editorial Note: This quote is curated and fact-checked by the ShortQuote Editorial Team. Verified Literature Specialist.

More by T. S. Eliot

"I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hope, For hope would be hope for the wrong thing."

— T. S. Eliot
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"Poetry is not a turning loose of emotion, but an escape from emotion it is not the expression of personality, but an escape from personality. But, of course, only those who have personality and emotions know what it means to want to escape from these things."

— T. S. Eliot
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"The communication of the dead is tongued with fire beyond the language of the living."

— T. S. Eliot
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"Business today consists in persuading crowds."

— T. S. Eliot
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More about Character

"There are two ways to go about it. You can take a compass and draw a perfect circle and make two perfect eyes as neat as can be. Or you can do it freehand and have some fun with it. Like I did. Give it character."

— Harvey Ball
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"It is not by muscle, speed, or physical dexterity that great things are achieved, but by reflection, force of character, and judgment."

— Marcus Tullius Cicero
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"Character is the result of two things: mental attitude and the way we spend our time."

— Elbert Hubbard
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"Personality is more important than beauty, but imagination is more important than both of them."

— Laurette Taylor
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