I know that a sweet child is the sweetest thing in nature, not even excepting the delicate creatures which bear them. Charles Lamb More Quotes by Charles Lamb More Quotes From Charles Lamb Pain is life - the sharper, the more evidence of life. Charles Lamb evidence pain life Literature is a bad crutch, but a good walking-stick. Charles Lamb walking-sticks crutches literature The measure of choosing well, is, whether a man likes and finds good in what he has chosen. Charles Lamb wells likes men Of all sound of all bells... most solemn and touching is the peal which rings out the Old Year. Charles Lamb holiday new-year years I love to lose myself in other men's minds.... Books think for me. Charles Lamb men book thinking May my last breath be drawn through a pipe, and exhaled in a jest. Charles Lamb lasts smoking may I toiled after it, sir, as some men toil after virtue. Charles Lamb toil smoking men He is no lawyer who cannot take two sides. Charles Lamb two-sides law feet He has left off reading altogether, to the great improvement of his originality. Charles Lamb originality reading book I have sat through an Italian opera, til, for sheer pain, and inexplicable anguish, I have rushed out into the noisiest places of the crowded street, to solace myself with sounds which I was not obliged to follow and get rid of the distracting torment of endless, fruitless, barren attention! Charles Lamb music pain italian A laugh is worth a hundred groans in any market. Charles Lamb laughter hundred laughing Oh, ever thus, from childhood's hour, I 've seen my fondest hopes decay; I never loved a tree or flower But 't was the first to fade away. I never nurs'd a dear gazelle, To glad me with its soft black eye, But when it came to know me well And love me, it was sure to die. Charles Lamb flower hope love The human species, according to the best theory I can form of it, is composed of two distinct races, the men who borrow and the men who lend. Charles Lamb race men two Shut not thy purse-strings always against painted distress. Act a charity sometimes. When a poor creature (outwardly and visibly such) comes before thee, do not stay to inquire whether the "seven small children," in whose name he implores thy assistance, have a veritable existence. Rake not into the bowels of unwelcome truth, to save a halfpenny. It is good to believe him. Charles Lamb names believe children Who first invented work, and bound the free And holiday-rejoicing spirit down . . . . To that dry drudgery at the desk's dead wood? . . . . Sabbathless Satan! Charles Lamb holiday dry work The harp that once through Tara's halls The soul of music shed, Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls As if that soul were fled. So sleeps the pride of former days, So glory's thrill is o'er; And hearts that once beat high for praise Now feel that pulse no more. Charles Lamb wall music heart The world meets nobody half way. Charles Lamb half way world We gain nothing by being with such as ourselves. We encourage one another in mediocrity. I am always longing to be with men more excellent than myself. Charles Lamb mediocrity association men Philanthropy, like charity, must begin at home. Charles Lamb philanthropy charity home A presentation copy, reader,-if haply you are yet innocent of such favours-is a copy of a book which does not sell, sent you by the author. Charles Lamb favour doe book