F M Cornford Quotes & Sayings

Poem
Heart of the heartless world,
Dear heart, the thought of you
Is the pain at my side,
The shadow that chills my view.
The wind rises in the evening,
Reminds that autumn is near.
I am afraid to lose you,
I am afraid of my fear.
On the last mile to Huesca,
The last fence for our pride,
Think so kindly, dear, that I
Sense you at my side.
And if bad luck should lay my strength
Into the shallow grave,
Remember all the good you can;
Don't forget my love. — John Cornford

Magnificently unprepared for the long littleness of life. — Frances Cornford

The spirits of children are remote and wise... — Frances Cornford

There is only one argument for doing something; the rest are arguments for doing nothing — Francis Macdonald Cornford

The study of mathematics is the indispensable basis for all intellectual and spiritual progress. — Francis Cornford

University printing presses exist, and are subsidised by the Government for the purpose of producing books which no one can read; and they are true to their high calling. — Francis Cornford

Propaganda is that branch of the art of lying which consists in nearly deceiving your friends without quite deceiving your enemies. — Francis Cornford

Nothing is ever done until everyone is convinced that it ought to be done, and has been convinced for so long that it is now time to do something else. — Francis Cornford

The word "theory" ... was originally an Orphic word, which Cornford interprets as "passionate sympathetic contemplation" ... For Pythagoras, the "passionate sympathetic contemplation" was intellectual, and issued in mathematical knowledge ... To those who have reluctantly learnt a little mathematics in school this may seem strange; but to those who have experienced the intoxicating delight of sudden understanding that mathematics gives, from time to time, to those who love it, the Pythagorean view will seem completely natural. — Bertrand Russell

Cynicism is the besetting and venial fault of declining youth, and disillusionment its last illusion. — Francis Macdonald Cornford

The Watch
I wakened on my hot, hard bed;
Upon the pillow lay my head;
Beneath the pillow I could hear
My little watch was ticking clear.
I thought the throbbing of it went
Like my continual discontent,
I thought it said in every tick:
I am so sick, so sick, so sick;
O death, come quick, come quick, come quick,
Come quick, come quick, come quick, come quick. — Frances Cornford

The political motive in the academic breast is honest enough. It is fear---genuine, perpetual, heart-felt timorousness. All the Political Arguments are addressed to this passion. Have you ever noticed how people say, 'I'm afraid I don't ...' when they mean, 'I think I don't ...'? — Francis Macdonald Cornford

I had a little dog and my dog was very small ... Of all the treasures that were mine, I loved him most of all. — Francis Cornford

Every public action which is not customary, either is wrong or, if it is right, is a dangerous precedent. It follows that nothing should ever be done for the first time. — Francis Cornford

My love came back to me Under the November tree Shelterless and dim. He put his hand upon my shoulder, He did not think me strange or older, Nor I, him. — Francis Cornford