A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world; and if in the present life his happiness arises from the subduing of his desires, it will arise in the next from the gratification of them. Joseph Addison More Quotes by Joseph Addison More Quotes From Joseph Addison Though a man cannot abstain from being weak, he may from being vicious. Joseph Addison weak may men Method is not less requisite in ordinary conversation than in writing, provided a man would talk to make himself understood. Joseph Addison ordinary writing men 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. Joseph Addison likes criticism mean We see no where the pernicious effects of luxury on a republic more than in that of the ancient Romans, who immediately found itself poor as soon as this vice got footing among them, though they were possessed of all the riches in the world. Joseph Addison ancient luxury vices Blesses his stars and thinks it luxury. Joseph Addison luxury stars thinking It was a saying of an ancient philosopher, which I find some of our writers have ascribed to Queen Elizabeth, who perhaps might have taken occasion to repeat it, that a good face is a letter of recommendation. Joseph Addison queens taken letters Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious, but an ill one more contemptible. Joseph Addison titles good-man men My voice is still for war. Gods! can a Roman senate long debate Which of the two to choose, slavery or death? Joseph Addison voice war two The man who lives by hope, will die by hunger. Joseph Addison hunger he-man men Sweet are the slumbers of the virtuous man. Joseph Addison slumber sweet men Beauty commonly produces love, but cleanliness preserves it. Age itself is not unamiable while it is preserved clean and unsullied; like a piece of metal constantly kept smooth and bright, we look on it with more pleasure than on a new vessel cankered with rust. Joseph Addison pieces age looks Music can noble hints impart, Engender fury, kindle love, With unsuspected eloquence can move, And manage all the man with secret art. Joseph Addison music art moving We cannot be guilty of a greater act of uncharitableness, than to interpret the afflictions which befall our neighbors as punishments and judgments. Joseph Addison affliction punishment adversity Authors have established it as a kind of rule, that a man ought to be dull sometimes; as the most severe reader makes allowances for many rests and nodding-places in a voluminous writer. Joseph Addison kindness men dull Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity. Joseph Addison affliction prosperity destiny Tis not my talent to conceal my thoughts, Or carry smiles and sunshine in my face, When discontent sits heavy at my heart. Joseph Addison sunshine faces heart My death and life, My bane and antidote, are both before me. Joseph Addison antidote life-and-death destiny Yet then from all my grief, O Lord, Thy mercy set me free, Whilst in the confidence of pray'r My soul took hold on thee. Joseph Addison grief soul prayer O ye powers that search The heart of man, and weigh his inmost thoughts, If I have done amiss, impute it not! The best may err, but you are good. Joseph Addison done heart men A satire should expose nothing but what is corrigible, and should make a due discrimination between those that are and those that are not the proper objects of it. Joseph Addison satire discrimination should
