Samuel Butler, born on December 4, 1835, in Langar, Nottinghamshire, England, was a renowned English author, satirist, and critic. He is best known for his novel “Erewhon” (1872), a sharp critique of Victorian society, and his semi-autobiographical work “The Way of All Flesh,” published posthumously in 1903. Butler’s career also included essays and notebooks that explored themes of evolution, religion, and human nature, earning him a reputation for wit and profound insight. His quotes about life are sourced primarily from his books, essays, and notebooks, reflecting his philosophical musings. In this list, we present 15 curated Samuel Butler quotes about life, drawn from his writings to offer timeless wisdom and inspiration.
15 Samuel Butler Quotes
1. “Life is like music; it must be composed by ear, feeling, and instinct, not by rule.” (The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, 1912)
2. “All animals except man know that the principal business of life is to enjoy it.” (Life and Habit, 1877)
3. “To live is like to love—all reason is against it, and all healthy instinct for it.” (Alps and Sanctuaries, 1882)
4. “Life is a fatal complaint, and an eminently contagious one.” (The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, 1912)
5. “Life is the art of drawing sufficient conclusions from insufficient premises.” (The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, 1912)
6. “Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.” (Life and Habit, 1877)
7. “The function of vice is to keep virtue within reasonable bounds.” (Erewhon, 1872)
8. “It has been said that the love of money is the root of all evil. The want of money is so quite as truly.” (Erewhon, 1872)
9. “Life is a progress from want to want, not from enjoyment to enjoyment.” (The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, 1912)
10. “The best way to increase one’s own enjoyment is to make another’s life more happy.” (Essays on Life, Art and Science, 1861)
11. “In life, as in a football game, the principle to follow is: Hit the line hard.” (The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, 1912)
12. “Every man’s work, whether it be literature, or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.” (The Note-Books of Samuel Butler, 1912)
13. “Life is too short to learn German.” (Attributed to letters, n.d.)
14. “The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.” (Common attribution, The Way of All Flesh, 1903)
15. “I consider being ill as one of the great pleasures of life, provided one is not too ill.” (The Way of All Flesh, 1903)
These Samuel Butler quotes illuminate his keen, often humorous perspective on life, revealing a blend of cynicism and optimism that underscores the human experience. They highlight themes of instinct, enjoyment, and the absurdities we face, showcasing Butler’s enduring wisdom as a commentator on existence. What do these words mean to you? Share your thoughts or favorite quotes in the comments below to continue the conversation.