Charles Caleb Colton Quotes
Words are in this respect like water, that they often take their taste, flavour, and character, from the mouth out of which they proceed, as the water from the channel through which it flows.
The temple of truth is built indeed of stones of crystal, but, inasmuch as men have been concerned in rearing it, it has been consolidated by a cement composed of baser materials.
The plainest man who pays attention to women, will sometimes succeed as well as the handsomest man who does not.
If we trace the history of most revolutions, we shall find that the first inroads upon the laws have been made by the governors, as often as by the governed.
Wars of opinion, as they have been the most destructive, are also the most disgraceful of conflicts.
Of all the faculties of the mind, memory is the first that flourishes, and the first that dies.
In great cities men are more callous both to the happiness and the misery of others, than in the country; for they are constantly in the habit of seeing both extremes.
From the preponderance of talent, we may always infer the soundness and vigour of the commonwealth; but from the preponderance of riches, its dotage and degeneration.
Many a man may thank his talent for his rank, but no man has ever been able to return the compliment by thanking his rank for his talent.
Never join with your friend when he abuses his horse or his wife, unless the one is about to be sold, the other to be buried.
There are some who write, talk, and think, so much about vice and virtue, that they have no time to practice either the one or the other.
Life is the jailer of the soul in this filthy prison, and its only deliverer is death.
Light, whether it be material or moral, is the best reformer; for it prevents those disorders which other remedies sometimes cure, but sometimes confirm.
Of two evils, it is perhaps less injurious to society, that good doctrine should be accompanied by a bad life, than that a good life should lend its support to a bad doctrine.
Much too oft we make life gloomy-- When happy we might be, If we gathered more of sunshine, And not dark shadows see.
False reasoners are often best confuted by giving them the full swing of their own absurdities.
There are truths which some men despise because they have not examined, and which they will not examine because they despise.
The moral cement of all society is virtue; it unites and preserves, while vice separates and destroys.
That theatrical kind of virtue, which requires publicity for its stage, and an applauding world for its audience, could not be depended on, in the secrecy of solitude, or the retirement of a desert.
Love, like the cold bath, is never negative, it seldom leaves us where it finds us; if once we plunge into it, it will either heighten our virtues, or inflame our vices.
Modesty is the richest ornament of a woman ... the want of it is her greatest deformity.
True goodness is not without that germ of greatness that can bear with patience the mistakes of the ignorant.
Opinions, like showers, are generated in high places, but they invariably descend into lower ones, and ultimately flow down to the people as rain unto the sea.
If a book really wants the patronage of a great name, it is a bad book; and if it be a good book, it wants it not.
Worldly wisdom dictates to her disciples the propriety of dressing somewhat beyond their means, but of living somewhat within them.
It is always easy to shut a book, but not quite so easy to get rid of a lettered coxcomb.
Many books owe their success to the good memories of their authors and the bad memories of their readers.
It was observed of Elizabeth that she was weak herself, but chose wise counsellors; to which it was replied, that to choose wise counsellors was, in a prince, the highest wisdom.
The seat of perfect contentment is in the head; for every individual is thoroughly satisfied with his own proportion of brains.
Genius in one grand particular is like life. We know nothing of either but by their effects.
Make the most of the day, by determining to spend it on two sorts of acquaintances only--those by whom something may be got, and those from whom something may be learned.
We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over a new one; it is established, and it is understood.
A thorough-paced antiquary not only remembers what all other people have thought proper to forget, but he also forgets what all other people think is proper to remember.
That author, however, who has thought more than he has read, read more than he has written, and written more than he has published, if he does not command success, has at least deserved it.
If the prodigal quits life in debt to others, the miser quits it still deeper in debt to himself.
Custom looks to things that are past, and fashion to things that are present, but both of them are somewhat purblind as to things that are to come.
Alas! how has the social spirit of Christianity been perverted by fools at one time, and by knaves and bigots at another; by the self-tormentors of the cell, and the all-tormentors of the conclave!
Total freedom from error is what none of us will allow to our neighbors; however we may be inclined to flirt a little with such spotless perfection ourselves.
If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you, fill her above the brim with love of herself ~ all that runs over will be yours.