Action is the highest perfection and drawing forth of the utmost power, vigor, and activity of man's nature. Robert South More Quotes by Robert South More Quotes From Robert South Most of the appearance of mirth in the world is not mirth, it is art. The wounded spirit is not seen, but walks under a disguise. Robert South laughter world art He that tears away a man's good name tears his flesh from his bones, and, by letting him live, gives him only a cruel opportunity of feeling his misery, of burying his better part, and surviving himself. Robert South names opportunity men No man's religion ever survives his morals. Robert South moral men religion For he that is a good man, is three quarters of his way towards the being a good Christian, wheresoever he lives, or whatsoever he is called. Robert South good-man christian men Folly enlarges men's desires while it lessens their capacities. Robert South capacity desire men An Aristotle was but the rubbish of an Adam, and Athens but the rudiments of Paradise. Robert South athens rubbish paradise The mind begins to boggle at unnatural substances as things paradoxical and incomprehensible. Robert South paradoxical substance mind Abstinence is the great strengthener and clearer of reason. Robert South abstinence reason Flints may be melted - we see it daily - but an ungrateful heart cannot be; not by the strongest and noblest flame. Robert South ungrateful flames heart Anger is a transient hatred; or at least very like it. Robert South transient anger hatred Innocence is like polished armor; it adorns and defends. Robert South children-innocence innocence armor Society is built upon trust. Robert South built confidence He who does a kindness to an ungrateful person, sets his seal to a flint and sows his seed upon the sand; on the former he makes no impression, and from the latter finds no product. Robert South ungrateful doe kindness It is the work of fancy to enlarge, but of judgment to shorten and contract; and therefore this must be as far above the other as judgment is a greater and nobler faculty than fancy or imagination. Robert South judgment fancy imagination Let a man be but in earnest in praying against a temptation as the tempter is in pressing it, and he needs not proceed by a surer measure. Robert South temptation men needs That in all these worldly Things, that a Man pursues with the greatest Eagerness and Intention of Mind imaginable, he finds not half the Pleasure in the actual Possession of them, that he proposed to himself in the Expectation. Robert South half expectations men If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives. Robert South If there be any truer message of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives. Robert South It is idleness that creates impossibilities; and where people don't care to do anything, they shelter themselves under a permission that it cannot be done. Robert South Truth will lose its credit, if delivered by a person that has none. Robert South
