Joseph Addison Quotes

Plutarch says very finely that a man should not allow himself to hate even his enemies.

The head has the most beautiful appearance, as well as the highest station, in a human figure.

Nothing makes men sharper than want.

A thousand glorious actions that might claim Triumphant laurels, and immortal fame, Confus'd in crowds of glorious actions lie, And troops of heroes undistinguished die.

The English delight in Silence more than any other European Nation, if the Remarks which are made on us by Foreigners are true.

Whilst I yet live, let me not live in vain.

As addictions go, reading is among the cleanest, easiest to feed, happiest.

An honest man, that is not quite sober, has nothing to fear.

A great large book is a great evil.

The Obedience of Children to their Parents is the Basis of all Government, and set forth as the measure of that Obedience which weowe to those whom Providence hath placed over us.

It is usual for a Man who loves Country Sports to preserve the Game in his own Grounds, and divert himself upon those that belongto his Neighbour.

Health and happiness give rise to each other.

Nothing lies on our hands with such uneasiness as time. Wretched and thoughtless creatures! In the only place where covetousness were a virtue we turn prodigals.

It is folly to seek the approbation of any being besides the Supreme.

I shall endeavour to enliven Morality with Wit, and to temper Wit with Morality, that my Readers may, if possible, both Ways findtheir Account in the Speculation of the Day.

Whether dark presages of the night proceed from any latent power of the soul during her abstraction, or from any operation of subordinate spirits, has been a dispute.

There is a sort of economy in Providence that one shall excel where another is defective, in order to make men more useful to each other, and mix them in society.

A soul exasperated in ills, falls out With everything, its friend, itself.

Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.

We make provisions for this life as if it were never to have an end, and for the other life as though it were never to have a beginning.

I think I may define taste to be that faculty of the soul which discerns the beauties of an author with pleasure, and the imperfections with dislike.

Husband a lie, and trump it up in some extraordinary emergency.

How beautiful is death, when earn'd by virtue!

The woman that deliberates is lost.

Why, a spirit is such a little, little thing, that I have heard man, who was a great scholar, say that he'll dance ye a hornpipe upon the point of a needle.

But in all despotic governments, though a particular prince may favour arts and letter, there is a natural degeneracy of mankind.

My voice is still for war. Gods! can a Roman senate long debate Which of the two to choose, slavery or death?

Thy steady temper, Portius, Can look on guilt, rebellion, fraud, and Cæsar, In the calm lights of mild philosophy.

A good disposition is more valuable than gold, for the latter is the gift of fortune, but the former is the dower of nature.

It must be so, Plato, thou reason'st well!

Though a man cannot abstain from being weak, he may from being vicious.

A state of temperance, sobriety and justice without devotion is a cold, lifeless, insipid condition of virtue, and is rather to be styled philosophy than religion.

There is not on earth a spectacle more worthy the regard of a Creator intent on his works, than a brave man superior to his sufferings.

Is it not wonderful, that the love of the parent should be so violent while it lasts and that it should last no longer than is necessary for the preservation of the young?

There is nothing touches our imagination so much as a beautiful woman in a plain dress.

I have sent for you that you may see how a Christian may die.

The man who lives by hope, will die by hunger.

The time never lies heavy upon him; it is impossible for him to be alone.

The moderns cannot reach their beauties, but can avoid their imperfections.

A friend exaggerates a man's virtues; an enemy inflames his crimes.

Who does not more admire Cicero as an author than as a consul of Rome?

Talk not of love: thou never knew'st its force.

Our admiration of a famous man lessens upon our nearer acquaintance with him; and we seldom hear of a celebrated person without a catalogue of some notorious weaknesses and infirmities.

A well regulated commerce is not, like law, physic, or divinity, to be overstocked with hands; but, on the contrary, flourishes by multitudes, and gives employment to all its professors.

The care of our national commerce redounds more to the riches and prosperity of the public than any other act of government.

It is pleasant to see a notorious profligate seized with a concern for religion, and converting his spleen into zeal.

Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion, benevolence, and humanity.

A jealous man is very quick in his application: he knows how to find a double edge in an invective, and to draw a satire on himself out of a panegyrick on another.

We have in England a particular bashfulness in every thing that regards religion.

Irresolution on the schemes of life which offer themselves to our choice, and inconstancy in pursuing them, are the greatest causes of all our unhappiness.