Throughout the ages, the written word has captured the essence of human experience, from the depths of sorrow to the heights of inspiration. Here is a curated list of the top 100 best paragraphs ever written, chosen for their poetic beauty, profound meaning, and inspirational power. Each paragraph is accompanied by a brief context to appreciate its origins and significance.
1. Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859, England)
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…”
- This iconic opening captures the contradictions of the French Revolution era, setting the stage for a tale of sacrifice and redemption.
2. William Shakespeare, Hamlet (1603, England)
“To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them…”
- In this soliloquy, Hamlet ponders the nature of existence and the human condition, reflecting the deep philosophical concerns of the Renaissance.
3. Albert Camus, The Rebel (1951, France)
“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”
- Camus discusses the concept of personal freedom and rebellion against oppression, characteristic of his existentialist philosophy.
4. Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken (1916, USA)
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
- This poem encapsulates the significance of individual choices and their impact on one’s life.
5. F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925, USA)
“And so we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
- The closing line of this novel reflects on the relentless pursuit of dreams and the inevitability of the past.
6. Emily Dickinson, Hope is the Thing with Feathers (1891, USA)
“Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all.”
- Dickinson personifies hope as a resilient bird, a central theme in her poetry.
7. William Ernest Henley, Invictus (1875, England)
“I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.”
- Henley’s defiant declaration of personal strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
8. Mahatma Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth (1927, India)
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
- Gandhi’s autobiography emphasizes the importance of selflessness and service to humanity.
9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring (1954, England)
“Not all those who wander are lost.”
- A line from a poem in Tolkien’s epic fantasy, highlighting the value of exploration and the depth of individuals.
10. Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address (1933, USA)
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
- Roosevelt’s reassurance to Americans during the Great Depression, encouraging resilience and confidence.
11. Dylan Thomas, Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night (1951, Wales)
“Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
- A passionate plea for fighting against death, reflecting Thomas’s turbulent emotions.
12. Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Conduct of Life (1860, USA)
“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”
- Emerson’s transcendentalist perspective on living a meaningful life through virtue and impact.
13. Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892, England)
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
- Wilde’s witty remark on human condition and aspiration, a hallmark of his literary style.
14. Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist (1988, Brazil)
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
- Coelho’s novel encourages readers to pursue their dreams despite obstacles.
15. W.B. Yeats, He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven (1899, Ireland)
“I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.”
- Yeats expresses vulnerability and the sacredness of dreams in this poignant poem.
16. Mahatma Gandhi, Collected Works (1958, India)
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
- Gandhi’s enduring call for personal responsibility and transformation.
17. Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching (6th century BCE, China)
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
- Ancient wisdom on the importance of taking the first step towards any significant endeavor.
18. David Viscott, Finding Your Strength in Difficult Times (1993, USA)
“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.”
- Viscott’s reflection on the warmth and completeness of reciprocal love.
19. Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream (1963, USA)
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’”
- King’s vision of equality and justice, a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
20. Robert Frost, Collected Poems (1939, USA)
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
- Frost’s succinct yet profound observation on the continuity of life.
21. Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address (1933, USA)
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
- A reiteration of Roosevelt’s famous encouragement during the Great Depression.
22. George Eliot, Middlemarch (1871, England)
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
- Eliot’s inspiring message about the potential for change and growth at any stage in life.
23. Edmund Burke, Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents (1770, England)
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
- Burke’s call to action against complacency and inaction in the face of injustice.
24. J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999, England)
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
- Dumbledore’s advice underscores the importance of maintaining hope and positivity.
25. Theodore Roosevelt, The Strenuous Life (1900, USA)
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
- Roosevelt’s pragmatic advice on making the most of one’s circumstances.
26. Winston Churchill, Speech to the House of Commons (1941, England)
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.”
- Churchill’s encouragement during World War II, emphasizing resilience and perseverance.
27. Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand (1952, Italy)
“We do not remember days, we remember moments.”
- Pavese’s reflection on the lasting impact of significant moments over the passage of time.
28. Theodore Roosevelt, Speech at the Minnesota State Fair (1901, USA)
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
- Roosevelt’s motivational message on the power of self-belief.
29. Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn by Living (1960, USA)
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
- Roosevelt’s inspiring words about the importance of dreams and vision for the future.
30. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance (1841, USA)
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
- Emerson’s call for individuality and self-trust amidst societal pressures.
31. Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963, USA)
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”
- King’s powerful reminder of the importance of speaking out against injustice.
32. J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998, England)
“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
- Dumbledore’s wisdom on the significance of choices in defining character.
33. Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! (1990, USA)
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
- Seuss’s whimsical yet profound encouragement for children embarking on life’s journey.
34. Abraham Lincoln, Collected Works (1953, USA)
“Whatever you are, be a good one.”
- Lincoln’s straightforward advice on striving for excellence in any role.
35. Virginia Satir, The New Peoplemaking (1988, USA)
“We must not allow other people’s limited perceptions to define us.”
- Satir’s insight on maintaining self-identity and integrity.
36. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Collected Essays (1841, USA)
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
- Emerson’s emphasis on the power and importance of inner strength.
37. Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Speech (2005, USA)
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do.”
- Jobs’s advice to pursue passion in one’s work for true fulfillment.
38. Frank Sinatra, Quoted in The Way You Wear Your Hat (1997, USA)
“The best revenge is massive success.”
- Sinatra’s statement on overcoming adversity through achievement.
39. Buddha, Dhammapada (5th century BCE, India)
“The mind is everything. What you think you become.”
- Buddha’s teaching on the power of thoughts in shaping reality.
40. Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Speech (2005, USA)
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
- Another piece of Jobs’s wisdom on the importance of living authentically.
41. Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891, England)
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”
- Wilde’s critique of conventional living and call for a more meaningful existence.
42. Mark Twain, Speeches (1910, USA)
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
- Twain’s reflection on purpose and self-discovery.
43. Henry Ford, My Life and Work (1922, USA)
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”
- Ford’s insight on the influence of mindset on success.
44. Buddha, Dhammapada (5th century BCE, India)
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”
- A teaching on mindfulness and living in the present.
45. John Lennon, Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) (1980, USA)
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”
- Lennon’s observation on the unpredictability of life.
46. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Collected Essays (1841, USA)
“It is not the length of life, but the depth.”
- Emerson’s emphasis on the quality of life experiences over their duration.
47. Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet (1929, Germany)
“The only journey is the one within.”
- Rilke’s focus on self-exploration and inner growth.
48. Mark Twain, Notebooks & Journals (1972, USA)
“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”
- Twain’s simple formula for a fulfilling life.
49. Maya Angelou, Rainbow in the Cloud (1993, USA)
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
- Angelou’s encouragement on the boundless nature of creativity.
50. Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics (4th century BCE, Greece)
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
- Aristotle’s insight on the power of consistent action in shaping character.
51. Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery (1901, USA)
“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”
- Washington’s call for mutual upliftment and service.
52. Joshua J. Marine, Quotable Quotes (1993, USA)
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”
- Marine’s perspective on the importance of overcoming challenges for a fulfilling life.
53. Helen Keller, The Story of My Life (1903, USA)
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.”
- Keller’s reflection on the intangible beauty of life’s most profound experiences.
54. George Sand, Collected Letters (1883, France)
“There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.”
- Sand’s simple yet profound statement on the essence of happiness.
55. Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass (1855, USA)
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”
- Whitman’s optimistic outlook on life and perseverance.
56. Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms (1929, USA)
“We are all broken, that’s how the light gets in.”
- Hemingway’s poignant acknowledgment of human fragility and resilience.
57. Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet (1923, Lebanon)
“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.”
- Gibran’s poetic reflection on the independence of children and the nature of parenthood.
58. Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1877, Russia)
“All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”
- Tolstoy’s famous opening line that delves into the complexities of familial happiness and sorrow.
59. Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom (1994, South Africa)
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
- Mandela’s inspiring words on the true nature of courage.
60. Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813, England)
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
- Austen’s witty and ironic opening that sets the tone for her exploration of marriage and social norms.
61. James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son (1955, USA)
“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”
- Baldwin’s powerful statement on the necessity of confronting issues for change to occur.
62. Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969, USA)
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
- Angelou’s profound reflection on the pain of unexpressed emotions and stories.
63. Victor Hugo, Les Misérables (1862, France)
“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”
- Hugo’s hopeful message amidst the struggles and injustices depicted in his novel.
64. Elie Wiesel, Night (1956, USA)
“For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.”
- Wiesel’s call to remember and testify to the horrors of the Holocaust.
65. George Orwell, 1984 (1949, England)
“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
- Orwell’s chilling paradoxes that define the totalitarian regime in his dystopian novel.
66. Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl (1947, Netherlands)
“In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart.”
- Frank’s enduring optimism despite the horrors of the Holocaust.
67. Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967, Colombia)
“There is always something left to love.”
- Márquez’s message on the resilience of love even amidst tragedy and solitude.
68. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince (1943, France)
“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
- Saint-Exupéry’s insight into the importance of seeing beyond appearances.
69. Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment (1866, Russia)
“Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart.”
- Dostoevsky’s exploration of the human condition through the struggles of his characters.
70. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (2nd century, Rome)
**“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”**
- Aurelius’s Stoic philosophy on the power of positive thinking.
71. Albert Einstein, Out of My Later Years (1950, USA)
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.”
- Einstein’s celebration of creativity and its boundless potential.
72. Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time (1913, France)
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
- Proust’s profound insight into perception and discovery.
73. Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird (1994, USA)
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
- Lamott’s practical advice on taking breaks and rejuvenation.
74. Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth (1988, USA)
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”
- Campbell’s encouragement to pursue one’s passions and find fulfillment.
75. Franz Kafka, The Trial (1925, Germany)
“It’s only because of their stupidity that they’re able to be so sure of themselves.”
- Kafka’s critique of blind certainty and its consequences.
76. Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar (1963, USA)
“I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. I am, I am, I am.”
- Plath’s powerful affirmation of existence and self-awareness.
77. Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf (1927, Germany)
“Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.”
- Hesse’s reflection on the strength found in release and acceptance.
78. Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale (1985, Canada)
“Nolite te bastardes carborundorum. Don’t let the bastards grind you down.”
- Atwood’s message of resistance and defiance against oppression.
79. Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood (1987, Japan)
“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking.”
- Murakami’s advocacy for independent thought and exploration through literature.
80. C.S. Lewis, The Chronicles of Narnia (1950, England)
“Courage, dear heart.”
- Lewis’s succinct encouragement for bravery and resilience.
81. Anne Sexton, The Complete Poems (1981, USA)
“Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard.”
- Sexton’s invitation to deep self-reflection and listening to one’s inner voice.
82. John Keats, Ode to a Nightingale (1819, England)
“Fade far away, dissolve, and quite forget what thou among the leaves hast never known, The weariness, the fever, and the fret here, where men sit and hear each other groan.”
- Keats’s longing for escape from the pains of mortal life, conveyed through his poetic imagery.
83. Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart (1958, Nigeria)
“The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.”
- Achebe’s critique of colonialism and its divisive impact on African societies.
84. Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987, USA)
“Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”
- Morrison’s exploration of the complexities of freedom and identity post-slavery.
85. Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner (2003, USA)
“For you, a thousand times over.”
- Hosseini’s powerful expression of loyalty and sacrifice, central to the novel’s themes.
86. Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights (1847, England)
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”
- Brontë’s depiction of the intense and eternal bond between her characters, Heathcliff and Catherine.
87. Stephen King, The Shawshank Redemption (1982, USA)
“Get busy living, or get busy dying.”
- King’s succinct declaration on the importance of choosing life and action over despair.
88. Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness (1969, USA)
“The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertainty; not knowing what comes next.”
- Le Guin’s insight into the necessity of uncertainty and the unknown in life.
89. Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 (1953, USA)
“We need not to be let alone. We need to be really bothered once in a while. How long is it since you were really bothered? About something important, about something real?”
- Bradbury’s call to awakeness and engagement with the world’s significant issues.
90. William Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury (1929, USA)
“I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire; I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you might forget it now and then for a moment and not spend all your breath trying to conquer it.”
- Faulkner’s meditation on time, memory, and human aspiration.
91. Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar (1963, USA)
“I am, I am, I am.”
- Plath’s reaffirmation of existence amidst her struggles with mental health.
92. F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (1925, USA)
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
- Fitzgerald’s closing reflection on the relentless pursuit of dreams and the pull of the past.
93. George Eliot, Middlemarch (1871, England)
“The growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.”
- Eliot’s tribute to the quiet, unsung contributions of ordinary people.
94. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings (1954, England)
“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”
- Tolkien’s encouragement of the potential impact of every individual, no matter how small.
95. Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind (1936, USA)
“After all, tomorrow is another day.”
- Mitchell’s hopeful conclusion, emphasizing resilience and the promise of new beginnings.
96. John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath (1939, USA)
“Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy, I’ll be there. If Casy knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad an’—I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re hungry an’ they know supper’s ready. An’ when our folks eat the stuff they raise an’ live in the houses they build—why, I’ll be there.”
- Steinbeck’s powerful commitment to social justice and solidarity with the oppressed.
97. Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore (2002, Japan)
“Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart.”
- Murakami’s poignant reflection on the dual nature of memories.
98. William Wordsworth, Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey (1798, England)
“For I have learned to look on nature, not as in the hour of thoughtless youth; but hearing oftentimes the still, sad music of humanity.”
- Wordsworth’s mature reflection on the relationship between humanity and nature.
99. John Donne, Meditation XVII (1624, England)
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”
- Donne’s meditation on the interconnectedness of all human beings.
100. Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea (1952, USA)
“But man is not made for defeat,” he said. “A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”
- Hemingway’s declaration of the indomitable spirit of man.
These paragraphs have resonated across time and culture, offering wisdom, beauty, and a deep understanding of the human condition. Their authors, through their unique voices and perspectives, have given us timeless reflections that continue to inspire and move us.
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