You can tell the ideals of a nation by its advertisements.
Norman Douglas

We are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others, by their acts.
Harold Nicolson

Idealism increases in direct proportion to one’s distance from the problem.
John Galsworthy

Reality shouts; ideals whisper.
Nathaniel LeTonnerre

Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows.
David T. Wolf

Don’t let the alarm clock of life wake you from the dream of your ideals.
Irisa Hail

Though I believe in liberalism, I find it difficult to believe in liberals.
G.K. Chesterton

An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.
Henry L. Mencken

Every dogma has its day, but ideals are eternal.
Israel Zangwill

Our ideals, like the gods of old, are constantly demanding human sacrifices.
George Bernard Shaw

Some people never have anything except ideals.
E.W. Howe

When a man forgets his ideals he may hope for happiness, but not till then.
John Oliver Hobbes