Thomas Fuller (writer) (1654 – 1734)
English physician, writer and adage collector.
To what Purpose shouldest thou seek great Things for thyself in the World? or having obtained them, prize them at any considerable Rate? or value thyself upon them? seeing thou knowest not, but this Night thy Soul may be required of thee, when thou shalt be divested of them all. 'Twould be as vain and unreasonable, as for a Traveler, that is to stay at his Inn but for a night, to take great Thought and Pains about furnishing and adorning his Chamber, which the next Morning he must leave to the next Comer.
Custom without Reason, is but an ancient Error.
Argument seldom convinces any one contrary to his Inclinations.
Nothing is ill, that ends well.
All Work, and no Play,
Makes Jack a dull boy.
Never defame or accuse any, except thou beest sure and certain of the Fact, and canst speak home to the Purpose : for undoubtful Accusations leave a Stain behind them ; and after prove indelible Injuries to the party accused.
Two Dogs fight for a Bone, and a third runs away with it.
When a Man is set upon his own Ruin, 'tis in vain to reason with him.
If you run after two Hares, you will catch neither.
You can't eat your Cake, and have it too.
To cast Oyl into the Fire, is not the Way to quench it.
He that scattereth Thorns, must not go Barefoot.
Beware of no Man more than thy self.
Search not a Wound too deep, lest thou make a new one.
A Man among Children will be long a Child, a Child among Men will be soon a Man.
Sauce for a Goose, is Sauce for a Gander.
Hope is as cheap as Despair.
He that hath a Head of Wax, must not walk in the Sun.
Every one is for denying, extenuating, or throwing the Blame on others, and never will confess a Fault, and take it upon himself ; but this, instead of getting it excused and pardoned aggravates it, and makes it worse, and angers the Party concerned, and so it doth Mischief instead of Good. I advise therefore (unless it be a furious, unforgiving Person, and the Thing be a Crime that must not be owned) frankly to own it, to shew how thou wast brought into it, and wish thou hadst not done it. It's likely this ingenuous dealing and throwing thyself upon his Kindness, may work upon his good Nature, and so the storm may pass off without more Mischief ; but this must be managed artfully in a middle Way between Sneaking and Arrogancy.