Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
Poverty palls the most generous spirits; it cows industry, and casts resolution itself into despair.
There are many more shining qualities in the mind of man, but there is none so useful as discretion.
Those Marriages generally abound most with Love and Constancy, that are preceded by a long Courtship.
Knowledge is, indeed, that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above another.
To a man of pleasure every moment appears to be lost, which partakes not of the vivacity of amusement.
Gold is a wonderful clearer of the understanding; it dissipates every doubt and scruple in an instant.
Fables take off from the severity of instruction, and enforce it at the same time that they conceal it.
Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.
It is observed by Cicero, that men of the greatest and most shining parts are most actuated by ambition.
A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.
Friendships, in general, are suddenly contracted; and therefore it is no wonder they are easily dissolved.
A fine coat is but a livery when the person who wears it discovers no higher sense than that of a footman.
Good nature will always supply the absence of beauty; but beauty cannot supply the absence of good nature.
Prejudice and self-sufficiency naturally proceed from inexperience of the world, and ignorance of mankind.
This party spirit has so ill an effect on our morals, it has likewise a very great one upon our judgments.
One of the most important but one of the most difficult things for a powerful mind is to be its own master.
Religion contracts the circle of our pleasures, but leaves it wide enough for her votaries to expatiate in.
It is always to be understood that a lady takes all you detract from the rest of her sex to be a gift to her.
My voice is still for war. Gods! can a Roman senate long debate Which of the two to choose, slavery or death?
The jealous man's disease is of so malignant a nature, that it converts all it takes into its own nourishment.
Whether zeal or moderation be the point we aim at, let us keep fire out of the one, and frost out of the other.
That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what other motive can make a father cruel?
He only is a great man who can neglect the applause of the multitude and enjoy himself independent of its favor.
A cheerful temper, joined with innocence will make beauty attractive, knowledge delightful, and wit good-natured.
How is it possible for those who are men of honor in their persons, thus to become notorious liars in their party
A solid and substantial greatness of soul looks down with neglect on the censures and applauses of the multitude.
What an absurd thing it is to pass over all the valuable parts of a man, and fix our attention on his infirmities.
I have often thought, says Sir Roger, it happens very well that Christmas should fall out in the middle of Winter.
The great number of the Jews furnishes us with a sufficient cloud of witnesses that attest the truth of the Bible.
Flying would give such occasions for intrigues as people cannot meet with who have nothing but legs to carry them.
Thy steady temper, Portius, Can look on guilt, rebellion, fraud, and Cæsar, In the calm lights of mild philosophy.
The moral perfections of the Deity, the more attentively, we consider, the more perfectly still shall we know them.
Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.
There is no passion that steals into the heart more imperceptibly and covers itself under more disguises than pride.
No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority.
It is pleasant to see a notorious profligate seized with a concern for religion, and converting his spleen into zeal.
Tradition is an important help to history, but its statements should be carefully scrutinized before we rely on them.
It is wonderful to see persons of sense passing away a dozen hours together in shuffling and dividing a pack of cards.
It is impossible for authors to discover beauties in one another's works; they have eyes only for spots and blemishes.
When all thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view I'm lost, in wonder, love and praise.
I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.
To be perfectly just is an attribute of the divine nature; to be so to the utmost of our abilities, is the glory of man.
There is nothing which one regards so much with an eye of mirth and pity as innocence when it has in it a dash of folly.
Nothing that isn't a real crime makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconsistency.
Yet then from all my grief, O Lord, Thy mercy set me free, Whilst in the confidence of pray'r My soul took hold on thee.
If there's a power above us, (And that there is all nature cries aloud Through all her works,) he must delight in virtue.
Our Grub-street biographers watch for the death of a great man like so many undertakers on purpose to make a penny of him.
Tis not my talent to conceal my thoughts, Or carry smiles and sunshine in my face, When discontent sits heavy at my heart.
The person who has a firm trust in the Supreme Being is powerful in his power, wise by his wisdom, happy by his happiness.
Content thyself to be obscurely good. When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, the post of honoris a private station.