“We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings, not in figures on a dial.”

—  Philip James Bailey , Festus

Scene V, A Country Town
Festus (1839)
Context: We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.
Life's but a means unto an end; that end
Beginning, mean, and end to all things, — God.
The dead have all the glory of the world.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; In feelings, not in figures on a dial." by Philip James Bailey?
Philip James Bailey photo
Philip James Bailey 19
British writer and poet 1816–1902

Related quotes

Aristotle photo

“We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts not breaths; // In feelings, not in figures on a dial. // We should count time by heart throbs. He most lives // Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.”

Aristotle (-384–-321 BC) Classical Greek philosopher, student of Plato and founder of Western philosophy

This is actually from the poem "We live in deeds..." by Philip James Bailey. This explains the strange pattern of capitalization.
Misattributed

Pindar photo

“For words
Live longer down the years than deeds.”

Pindar (-517–-437 BC) Ancient Greek poet

Nemean 4, line 6; page 213. (473 BC?)

Phillis Wheatley photo

“When first thy pencil did these beaties give
And breathing figures learnt from thee to live”

Phillis Wheatley (1753–1784) American poet

To A young African painter from Poems on Various Subjects kindle ebook ASIN B0083ZJ7SU

Stephen King photo

“Time is a keyhole, he thought as he looked up at the stars. Yes, I think so. We sometimes bend and peer through it. And the wind we feel on our cheeks when we do - the wind that blows through the keyhole- is the breath of all the living universe.”

Stephen King (1947) American author

Source: The Wind Through the Keyhole

Philip James Bailey photo

“Let each man think himself an act of God,
His mind a thought, his life a breath of God;
And let each try, by great thoughts and good deeds,
To show the most of Heaven he hath in him.”

Philip James Bailey Festus

Proem
Festus (1839)

Cassandra Clare photo

“We live and breathe words.”

Cassandra Clare book Clockwork Prince

Source: Clockwork Prince

“We thought the hard part was over—but we were wrong. Living is the hardest part. Figuring out how to live your life when you’re all busted up inside and out—there is nothing harder.”

Paullina Simons book The Summer Garden

Source: The Summer Garden

Richard Brinsley Sheridan photo

“Date not the life which thou hast run by the mean of reckoning of the hours and days, which though hast breathed: a life spent worthily should be measured by a nobler line, — by deeds, not years…”

Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-British politician, playwright and writer

Pizarro (first acted 24 May 1799), Act iv, Scene 1. Compare: "Who well lives, long lives; for this age of ours / Should not be numbered by years, daies, and hours", Guillaume de Salluste Du Bartas, Second Week, Fourth Day, Book ii.

“They live and laugh who know the better part —
Count length of pleasure not by dial or glass
But by the heart”

Robertson Davies (1913–1995) Canadian journalist, playwright, professor, critic, and novelist

The Golden Ass (1999)
Context: They live and laugh who know the better part —
Count length of pleasure not by dial or glass
But by the heart;
What are our fears
When Time's slow footfall, fall, fall
Falling
Turns lovers' hours to years?

“Think about it: what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellow men. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone.”

Carlos Castaneda (1925–1998) Peruvian-American author

Variant: Self-importance is our greatest enemy. Think about it - what weakens us is feeling offended by the deeds and misdeeds of our fellowmen. Our self-importance requires that we spend most of our lives offended by someone.
Source: Fire from Within

Related topics