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.
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
“For words
Live longer down the years than deeds.”
Pindar (-517–-437 BC) Ancient Greek poet
Nemean 4, line 6; page 213. (473 BC?)
“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
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.
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?
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
