Joseph Addison (1672 – 1719)
English politician and writer.
He that would pass the latter part of life with honour and decency, must, when he is young, consider that he shall one day be old; and remember, when he is old, that he has once been young.
When love's well-timed 'tis not a fault of love;
The strong, the brave, the virtuous, and the wise,
Sink in the soft captivity together.
Cunning is only the mimic of discretion, and may pass upon weak men in the same manner as vivacity is often mistaken for wit, and gravity for wisdom.
Just men, by whom impartial laws were given;
And saints who taught and led the way to heaven.
Ne'er to these chambers, where the mighty rest,
Since their foundation came a nobler guest; Nor e’er was to the bowers of bliss conveyed
A fairer spirit or more welcome shade.
Man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter.
When I read the rules of criticism, I immediately inquire after the works of the author who has written them, and by that means discover what it is he likes in a composition.
A man that has a taste of music, painting, or architecture, is like one that has another sense, when compared with such as have no relish of those arts.
Knowledge is, indeed, that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above another.
To be an atheist requires an indefinitely greater measure of faith than to receive all the great truths which atheism would deny.
A cheerful temper joined with innocence will make beauty attractive, knowledge delightful and wit good-natured.
Upon the whole, a contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.
To be perfectly just is an attribute in the divine nature; to be so to the utmost of our abilities, is the glory of man.
Were you with these, my prince, you'd soon forget
The pale, unripened beauties of the north.
I consider an human soul without education like marble in the quarry, which shews none of its inherent beauties till the skill of the polisher fetches out the colours, makes the surface shine, and discovers every ornamental cloud, spot and vein that runs through the body of it.
Silence never shows itself to so great an advantage, as when it is made the reply to calumny and defamation, provided that we give no just occasion for them.
That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what other motive can make a father cruel?
Talk not of love: thou never knew'st its force.
If in the stage I seek to soothe my care,
I meet his soul which breathes in Cato there;
If pensive to the rural shades I rove,
His shape o'ertakes me in the lonely grove;
'Twas there of just and good he reasoned strong,
Cleared some great truth, or raised some serious song:
There patient showed us the wise course to steer,
A candid censor, and a friend severe;
There taught us how to live; and (oh, too high
The price for knowledge!) taught us how to die.
A cloudy day or a little sunshine have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most real blessings or misfortunes.
I Have often thought if the minds of men were laid open, we should see but little difference between that of the wise man and that of the fool. There are infinite reveries, numberless extravagances, and a perpetual train of vanities which pass through both. The great difference is, that the first knows how to pick and cull his thoughts for conversation, by suppressing some, and communicating others; whereas the other lets them all indifferently fly out in words.