Life and Literature / Over two thousand extracts from ancient and modern writers, / and classified in alphabetical order

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

30373

Title

Life and Literature / Over two thousand extracts from ancient and modern writers, / and classified in alphabetical order

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A curated anthology of over two thousand extracts from ancient and modern writers, classified alphabetically. This volume serves as a literary magazine offering wisdom on life, character, and conduct, aiming to nourish the mind and improve well-being through the collected insights of history's greatest thinkers.

Summary up to 500 words

Compiled by J. Purver Richardson, *Life and Literature* presents a vast collection of over two thousand quotations and short essays drawn from ancient and modern writers, organized alphabetically from A to Z. Gathered through years of research on both sides of the Atlantic, the volume serves as a magazine of literary food intended to make the reader wiser and better. The text covers a wide spectrum of human experience, beginning with themes of ability and absence, moving through abuse, acquaintances, and actions. It explores the nature of adversity, noting that it often reveals true character and latent talents, while contrasting the fleeting nature of worldly success with the permanence of virtue. Richardson delves into specific topics such as the dangers of affectation, the necessity of self-denial, and the complexities of human relationships, including friendship, marriage, and family. The collection includes reflections on age, asserting that it is a matter of feeling rather than years, and offers advice on managing anger, secrets, and ambition. Through voices ranging from Pliny and Shakespeare to Emerson and Burns, the book constructs a comprehensive guide to living a dignified, thoughtful, and morally grounded life. It emphasizes that while individuals cannot control external circumstances, they can always choose their actions and attitudes. The work also touches on religious observance, the value of truth, and the importance of practical work over idle wishing. By presenting a bouquet of literary gems, the book aims to conduce to the growth of the mind and the health of the body, offering a timeless resource for personal improvement and ethical living.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/30373.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg30373.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-07 10:33 UTC

Categories

• Classics
• Quotations