Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes From Charles Caleb Colton Precisely in proportion to our own intellectual weakness will be our credulity as to those mysterious powers assumed by others. Charles Caleb Colton atheism weakness intellectual Those that know the least of others think the highest of themselves. Charles Caleb Colton bullying knows thinking An Irish man fights before he reasons, a Scotchman reasons before he fights, an Englishman is not particular as to the order of precedence, but will do either to accommodate his customers. Charles Caleb Colton fighting business men When we feel a strong desire to thrust our advice upon others, it is usually because we suspect their weakness; but we ought rather to suspect our own. Charles Caleb Colton strong desire advice When certain persons abuse us, let us ask ourselves what description of characters it is that they admire; we shall often find this a very consolatory question. Charles Caleb Colton abuse criticism character Criticism is like champagne, nothing more execrable if bad, nothing more excellent if good. Charles Caleb Colton champagne excellent criticism Custom looks to things that are past, and fashion to things that are present, but both of them are somewhat purblind as to things that are to come. Charles Caleb Colton fashion looks past If the prodigal quits life in debt to others, the miser quits it still deeper in debt to himself. Charles Caleb Colton debt deeper quitting Pedantry crams our heads with learned lumber and takes out our brains to make room for it. Charles Caleb Colton teaching education brain We are not more ingenious in searching out bad motives for good actions when performed by others, than good motives for bad actions when performed by ourselves. Charles Caleb Colton atheism action discovery Riches may enable us to confer favors, but to confer them with propriety and grace requires a something that riches cannot give. Charles Caleb Colton money grace giving Total freedom from error is what none of us will allow to our neighbors; however we may be inclined to flirt a little with such spotless perfection ourselves. Charles Caleb Colton flirting errors mistake It is far better to borrow experience than to buy it. Charles Caleb Colton experience Whenever we find ourselves more inclined to persecute than to persuade, we may then be certain that our zeal has more of pride in it than of charity. Charles Caleb Colton charity pride may Flattery is often a traffic of mutual meanness, where although both parties intend deception, neither are deceived. Charles Caleb Colton flattery deception party We must be careful how we flatter fools too little, or wise men too much, for the flatterer must act the very reverse of the physician, and administer the strongest dose only to the weakest patient. Charles Caleb Colton physicians wise men The seeds of repentance are sown in youth by pleasure, but the harvest is reaped in age by pain. Charles Caleb Colton youth pain age Public charities and benevolent associations for the gratuitous relief of every species of distress, are peculiar to Christianity; no other system of civil or religious policy has originated them; they form its highest praise and characteristic feature. Charles Caleb Colton relief peculiar religious All adverse and depressing influences can be overcome, not by fighting, by by rising above them. Charles Caleb Colton depressing motivational inspirational We cannot think too highly of our nature, nor too humbly of ourselves. Charles Caleb Colton nature pride humility