Philip James Bailey (1816–1902) was an English Spasmodic poet, best known as the author of Festus. Bailey was born on 22 April 1816 in Nottingham, the only son of Thomas Bailey by his first wife, Mary Taylor. He was brought up on the poetry of Lord Byron. Educated in Nottingham, he was tutored in classics by Benjamin Carpenter, a Unitarian minister. Aged 15, he matriculated at Glasgow University. Dropping the idea of becoming a Presbyterian minister, he began in 1833 to study law in a solicitor’s office in London. On 26 April 1834 he entered Lincoln’s Inn, and was called to the bar on 7 May 1840, but never practiced law.
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Great thoughts, like great deeds, need no trumpet.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Thoughts, Greatness, One liners
Imagination is the air of mind.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Imagination
The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat one’s self. All sin is easy after that.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Corruption, Deceit
There are whole veins of diamonds in thine eyes, Might furnish crowns for all the Queens of earth.
—Philip James Bailey
Kindness is wisdom.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Kindness
Morn, like a maiden glancing o’er her pearls, streamed o’er the manna-dew, as though the ground were sown with starseed.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Morning
Our similarities are different.
—Philip James Bailey
There is no disappointment we endure one-half so great as what we are to ourselves.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Awareness, Self-Knowledge
Art is man’s nature: Nature is God’s art.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Nature
The stars, Which stand as thick as dewdrops on the fields Of heaven.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Stars
We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Success & Failure
Who never doubted, never half believed. Where doubt is, there truth is — it is her shadow.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Doubt
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.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Character, Time Management, Life, Action, Achievement
The worst men often give the best advice.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Advice
Surely the stars are images of love.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Stars
Simplicity is nature’s first step, and the last of art.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Simplicity
I love night more than day–she is so lovely; But I love night the most because she brings My love to me in dreams which scarcely lie.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Night
Walk boldly and wisely… There is a hand above that will help you on.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: God, Faith
Prayer is the spirit speaking truth to Truth.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Prayer
The sole equality on earth is death.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Equality, One liners
Night brings out stars as sorrow shows us truths.
—Philip James Bailey
Topics: Suffering, Sorrow
America, thou half-brother of the world; with something good and bad of every land.
—Philip James Bailey
Joys are bubble-like; what makes them bursts them too.
—Philip James Bailey
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- William Wordsworth English Poet
- Abraham Cowley English Poet
- William Blake English Poet
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge English Poet
- Robert Browning English Poet
- John Milton English Poet
- John Dryden English Poet
- William Cowper English Anglican Poet
- Percy Bysshe Shelley English Poet
- Edwin Arnold English Poet