A friendship that like love is warm; A love like friendship, steady.

— Thomas Moore

A man or a woman can inspire such deep fantasy and emotion that through the lovemaking embrace of a partners body we make break through the limits of the human condition to touch upon another level of reality.

— Thomas Moore

And the heart that is soonest awake to the flowers is always the first to be touch'd by the thorns.

— Thomas Moore

An eternal question about children is, how should we educate them? Politicians and educators consider more school days in a year, more science and math, the use of computers and other technology in the classroom, more exams and tests, more certification for teachers, and less money for art. All of these responses come from the place where we want to make the child into the best adult possible, not in the ancient Greek sense of virtuous and wise, but in the sense of one who is an efficient part of the machinery of society. But on all these counts, soul is neglected.

— Thomas Moore

Any writer who puts his words and thoughts out into the public is going to be criticized.

— Thomas Moore

A small amount of good literature can often teach more about the inner life than volumes of psychology.

— Thomas Moore

Bastard Freedom waves Her fustian flag in mockery over slaves.

— Thomas Moore

Believe me, if all those endearing young charms, Which I gaze on so fondly to-day, Were to change by to-morrow, and fleet in my arms, Live fairy-gifts fading away, Thou wouldst still be adored, as this moment thou art, Let thy loveliness fade as it will, And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart Would entwine itself verdantly still. It is not while beauty and youth are thine own, And thy cheeks profaned by a tear, That the fervor and faith of a soul may be known, To which time will but make the more dear! No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets, But as truly loves on to the close, As the sunflower turns on her god when he sets The same look which she turned when he rose!

— Thomas Moore

Besides, the story is ambivalent and mysterious in its ending. Is this Alcestis returning from down below? Why does she have a veil over her face? Could it be that when we forcefully bring back to life what has been lost through love what we get is only a state of its former reality? Maybe we can never succeed fully in restoring the soul to life. Maybe she will always be veiled and at least partially shielded from the rigors of actual life. Love demands a submission that is total.

— Thomas Moore

Came but for friendship, and took away love.

— Thomas Moore