“Though many illusions are of a character we should gladly cherish, yet the sooner we lose some of them, the sooner we gain the power of seeing clearly into things. The one who possesses least has the best chance of becoming wise. The man who travels, and reflects, loses illusions faster than he who stays at home.”
Source: Quotes:, Autobiography of Sir Henry Morton Stanley (1909), p. 523
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Henry Morton Stanley10
Welsh journalist and explorer 1841–1904Related quotes
Edward Lear (1812–1888) British artist, illustrator, author and poet
The Pobble Who Has No Toes http://www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/ll/pobble.html, st. 1 (1877).
Andrew Sullivan (1963) Journalist, writer, blogger
"Iraq and Gaza, Ctd" http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/06/iraq_and_gaza_c.html, The Daily Dish (14 June 2007)
Margaret Mead (1901–1978) American anthropologist
As quoted in "Growing Old in America" by Grace Hechinger, in Family Circle magazine (25 July 25 1977)
1970s
“If we stayed home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later.”
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892–1973) British philologist and author, creator of classic fantasy works
Context: 'Of course, it is likely enough, my friends,' he said slowly, 'likely enough that we are going to our doom: the last march of the Ents. But if we stayed home and did nothing, doom would find us anyway, sooner or later. That thought has long been growing in our hearts; and that is why we are marching now. It was not a hasty resolve. Now at least the last march of the Ents may be worth a song.
Alan Watts (1915–1973) British philosopher, writer and speaker
Source: The Book on the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are (1966), p. 96