John Quotes

Repentance is the virtue of weak minds.

I have a soul that like an ample shield Can take in all, and verge enough for more.

Successful crimes alone are justified.

Virtue without success is a fair picture shown by an ill light; but lucky men are favorites of heaven; all own the chief, when fortune owns the cause.

Pleasure never comes sincere to man; but lent by heaven upon hard usury.

The commendation of adversaries is the greatest triumph of a writer, because it never comes unless extorted.

That gloomy outside, like a rusty chest, contains the shoring treasure of a soul resolved and brave.

To tame the proud, the fetter'd slave to free, These are imperial arts.

Ill fortune seldom comes alone.

Having mourned your sin, for outward Eden lost, find paradise within.

The wretched have no friends.

My hands are guilty, but my heart is free.

Damn'd neuters, in their middle way of steering, Are neither fish, nor flesh, nor good red herring.

Who climbs the grammar-tree, distinctly knows Where noun, and verb, and participle grows.

He who trusts a secret to his servant makes his own man his master.

To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.

Maintain your post: That's all the fame you need; For 'tis impossible you should proceed.

Democracy is essentially anti-authoritarian--that is, it not only demands the right but imposes the responsibility of thinking for ourselves.

The brave man seeks not popular applause, Nor, overpower'd with arms, deserts his cause; Unsham'd, though foil'd, he does the best he can, Force is of brutes, but honor is of man.

Music is inarticulate poesy.

For danger levels man and brute And all are fellows in their need.

Resolved to ruin or to rule the state.

Such subtle Covenants shall be made,Till Peace it self is War in Masquerade.

Thoughts cannot form themselves in words so horrid As can express my guilt.

But wild Ambition loves to slide, not stand, And Fortune's ice prefers to Virtue's land.

Bankrupt of life, yet prodigal of ease.

Men are but children of a larger growth.

And nobler is a limited command, Given by the love of all your native land, Than a successive title, long and dark, Drawn from the mouldy rolls of Noah's Ark.

To die is landing on some distant shore.

Even victors are by victories undone.

The people's prayer, the glad diviner's theme, The young men's vision, and the old men's dream!

Woman's honor is nice as ermine; it will not bear a soil.

If you are for a merry jaunt, I will try, for once, who can foot it farthest.

The first is the law, the last prerogative.

Criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant as a standard of judging well; the chiefest part of which is to observe those excellencies which delight a reasonable reader.

With how much ease believe we what we wish!

Not to ask is not be denied.

By viewing nature, nature's handmaid art, Makes mighty things from small beginnings grow: Thus fishes first to shipping did impart, Their tail the rudder, and their head the prow.

Whistling to keep myself from being afraid.

Imitators are but a servile kind of cattle.

The elephant is never won by anger; nor must that man who would reclaim a lion take him by the teeth.

Let cheerfulness on happy fortune wait.

All habits gather by unseen degrees.

Love taught him shame, and shame with love at strife Soon taught the sweet civilities of life.

Imitation pleases, because it affords matter for inquiring into the truth or falsehood of imitation, by comparing its likeness or unlikeness with the original.

For my part, I can compare her (a gossip) to nothing but the sun; for, like him, she knows no rest, nor ever sets in one place but to rise in another.

Uncertain whose the narrowest span,--the clown unread, or half-read gentleman.

I maintain, against the enemies of the stage, that patterns of piety, decently represented, may second the precepts.

The propriety of thoughts and words, which are the hidden beauties of a play, are but confusedly judged in the vehemence of action.

The good we have enjoyed from Heaven's free will, and shall we murmur to endure the ill?