It is an easy and vulgar thing to please the mob, and no very arduous task to astonish them. Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes From Charles Caleb Colton It is far more easy to acquire a fortune like a knave, than to expend it, like a gentleman. Charles Caleb Colton knaveswealthgentleman Reply to wit with gravity, and to gravity with wit. Charles Caleb Colton gravitywit Theory is worth but little, unless it can explain its own phenomena, and it must effect this without contradicting itself; therefore, the facts are sometimes assimilated to the theory, rather than the theory to the facts. Charles Caleb Colton littlessometimesfacts Let those who would affect singularity with success first determine to be very virtuous, and they will be sure to be very singular. Charles Caleb Colton solitudelonelinessfirsts The avarice of the miser may be termed the grand sepulchral of all his other passions, as they successively decay. Charles Caleb Colton decaygreedpassion Pedantry prides herself on being wrong by rules; while common sense is contented to be right without them. Charles Caleb Colton prudencecommon-sensepride If you are under obligations to many, it is prudent to postpone the recompensing of one, until it be in your power to remunerate all; otherwise you will make more enemies by what you give, than by what you withhold. Charles Caleb Colton prudentgivingenemy No disorders have employed so many quacks, as those that have no cure; and no sciences have exercised so many quills, as those that have no certainty. Charles Caleb Colton curesdisorderscience Those who bequeath unto themselves a pompous funeral, are at just so much expense to inform the world of something that had much better be concealed; namely, that their vanity has survived themselves. Charles Caleb Colton vanityfuneralworld Men will wrangle for religion, write for it, fight for it, die for it; anything but live for it. Charles Caleb Colton writinginspirationalwar Hope is a prodigal young heir, and experience is his banker. Charles Caleb Colton hopeexpectationsbankers The seat of perfect contentment is in the head; for every individual is thoroughly satisfied with his own proportion of brains. Charles Caleb Colton perfectbrainknowledge Religion has treated knowledge sometimes as an enemy, sometimes as a hostage; often as a captive and more often as a child; but knowledge has become of age, and religion must either renounce her acquaintance, or introduce her as a companion and respect her as a friend. Charles Caleb Colton childrenenemyknowledge We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over a new one; it is established, and it is understood. Charles Caleb Colton innovationinspirationaltwo Deliberate with caution, but act with decision and yield with graciousness, or oppose with firmness. Charles Caleb Colton yieldsarcasticfunny In great cities men are more callous both to the happiness and the misery of others, than in the country; for they are constantly in the habit of seeing both extremes. Charles Caleb Colton sadnessmencountry Of all the faculties of the mind, memory is the first that flourishes, and the first that dies. Charles Caleb Colton mindmemoriesfirsts To cure us of our immoderate love of gain, we should seriously consider how many goods there are that money will not purchase, and these the best; and how many evils there are that money will not remedy, and these the worst. Charles Caleb Colton gainsmoneyevil Wars of opinion, as they have been the most destructive, are also the most disgraceful of conflicts. Charles Caleb Colton conflictopinionwar If we trace the history of most revolutions, we shall find that the first inroads upon the laws have been made by the governors, as often as by the governed. Charles Caleb Colton revolutionlawfirsts
