For I begin with writing the first sentence, — and trusting to Almighty God for the second. Laurence Sterne More Quotes by Laurence Sterne More Quotes From Laurence Sterne What is the life of man! Is it not to shift from side to side? From sorrow to sorrow? To button up one cause of vexation! And unbutton another! Laurence Sterne sorrow men life Sweet pliability of man's spirit, that can at once surrender itself to illusions, which cheat expectation and sorrow of their weary moments! - long - long since had ye numbered out my days, had I not trod so great a part of them upon this enchanted ground. When my way is too rough for my feet, or too steep for my strength, I get off it, to some smooth velvet path which fancy has scattered over with rose-buds of delights; and have taken a few turns on it, come back strengthened and refreshed. Laurence Sterne taken sweet men Go, poor devil, get thee gone! Why should I hurt thee? This world surely is wide enough to hold both thee and me. Laurence Sterne devil hurt gone Most of us are aware of and pretend to detest the barefaced instances of that hypocrisy by which men deceive others, but few of us are upon our guard or see that more fatal hypocrisy by which we deceive and over-reach our own hearts. Laurence Sterne hypocrisy heart men God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. Laurence Sterne literature sheep wind Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world - though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst - the cant of criticism is the most tormenting! Laurence Sterne hypocrisy criticism hypocrite Chance is the providence of adventurers. Laurence Sterne chance adventure inspirational To write a book is for all the world like humming a song. Laurence Sterne writing song book Is this a fit time, said my father to himself, to talk of Pensions and Grenadiers? Laurence Sterne fit time father First, whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his creed. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbors, and where they separate, depend upon it, 'Tis for no other cause but quietness sake. Laurence Sterne atheism passion men If death, said my father, reasoning with himself, is nothing but the separation of the soul from the body;--and if it is true that people can walk about and do their business without brains,--then certes the soul does not inhabit there. Laurence Sterne soul father people The history of a soldier's wound beguiles the pain of it. Laurence Sterne pain soldier history Positiveness is a most absurd foible. If you are in the right, it lessens your triumph; if in the wrong, it adds shame to your defeat. Laurence Sterne triumph add happiness Learning is the dictionary, but sense the grammar of science. Laurence Sterne grammar learning science Did ever woman, since the creation of the world, interrupt a man with such a silly question? Laurence Sterne silly men world It is the nature of an hypothesis, when once a man has conceived it, that it assimilates every thing to itself, as proper nourishment; and, from the first moment of your begetting it, it generally grows the stronger by every thing you see, hear, read, or understand. Laurence Sterne reading men science 'Tis known by the name of perseverance in a good cause,-and of obstinacy in a bad one. Laurence Sterne perseverance causes names To write a book is for all the world like humming a song—be but in tune with yourself, madam, 'tis no matter how high or how low you take it. Laurence Sterne writing song book I'll not hurt thee, says Uncle Toby, rising with the fly in his hand. Go, he says, opening the window to let it escape. Why should I hurt thee? This world is surely wide enough to hold both thee and me. Laurence Sterne uncles hurt animal That of all the several ways of beginning a book which are now in practice throughout the known world, I am confident my own way of doing it is the bst-- I'm sure it is the most religious-- for I begin with writing the first sentence-- and trusting to Almighty God for the second. Laurence Sterne religious writing book
