A bibliophile of little means is likely to suffer often. Books don't slip from his hands but fly past him through the air, high as birds, high as prices.
– William Lyon Phelps
A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view halfway up is better than the view from the base, and it steadily becomes finer as the horizon expands.
– William Lyon Phelps
God speaks to me not through the thunder and the earthquake, nor through the ocean and the stars, but through the Son of Man, and speaks in a language adapted to my imperfect sight and hearing.
– William Lyon Phelps
I am glad my ancestors arrived on the Mayflower, but I am gladder that there are nine generations between us.
– William Lyon Phelps
I divide all readers into two classes: those who read to remember and those who read to forget.
– William Lyon Phelps
If happiness truly consisted in physical ease and freedom from care, then the happiest individual would not be either a man or a woman; it would be, I think, an American cow.
– William Lyon Phelps
If I didn't start painting, I would have raised chickens.
– William Lyon Phelps
If you develop the absolute sense of certainty that powerful beliefs provide, then you can get yourself to accomplish virtually anything, including those things that other people are certain are impossible.
– William Lyon Phelps
In a start-up company, you basically throw out all assumptions every three weeks.
– William Lyon Phelps
One of the secrets of life is to keep our intellectual curiosity acute.
– William Lyon Phelps
The fear of life is the favorite disease of the 20th century.
– William Lyon Phelps
Those who decide to use leisure as a means of mental development, who love good music, good books, good pictures, good plays, good company, good conversation - what are they? They are the happiest people in the world.
– William Lyon Phelps
Whenever it is in any way possible, every boy and girl should choose as his life work some occupation which he should like to do anyhow, even if he did not need the money.
– William Lyon Phelps
This is the final test of a gentleman: his respect for those who can be of no possible service to him.
– William Lyon Phelps
Nature makes boys and girls lovely to look upon so they can be tolerated until they acquire some sense.
– William Lyon Phelps
If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.
– William Lyon Phelps
A student never forgets an encouraging private word, when it is given with sincere respect and admiration.