Our admiration of fine writing will always be in proportion to its real difficulty and its apparent ease. Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes From Charles Caleb Colton Error, when she retraces her steps, has farther to go before she can arrive at truth than ignorance. Charles Caleb Colton errorsignorancesteps The blindness of bigotry, the madness of ambition, and the miscalculations of diplomacy seek their victims principally amongst the innocent and the unoffending. The cottage is sure to suffer for every error of the court, the cabinet, or the camp. When error sits in the seat of power and of authority, and is generated in high places, it may be compared to that torrent which originates indeed in the mountain, but commits its devastation in the vale. Charles Caleb Colton errorsambitionsuffering He that will often put eternity and the world before him, and who will dare to look steadfastly at both of them, will find that the more often he contemplates them, the former will grow greater, and the latter less. Charles Caleb Colton eternitylooksworld I question if Epicurus and Hume have done mankind a greater service by the looseness of their doctrines than by the purity of their lives. Of such men we may more justly exclaim, than of Caesar, "Confound their virtues, they've undone the world! Charles Caleb Colton doctrineexamplemen The greatest miracle that the Almighty could perform would be to make a bad man happy, even in heaven; he must unparadise that blessed place to accomplish it. In its primary signification, all vice--that is, all excess--brings its own punishment even here. Charles Caleb Colton miracleblessedmen Too high an appreciation of our own talents is the chief cause why experience preaches to us all in vain. Charles Caleb Colton experiencecausesappreciation That extremes beget extremes is an apothegm built on the most profound observation of the human mind. Charles Caleb Colton observationmindprofound Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith is the soul of religion, and works the body. Charles Caleb Colton spiritualchristianfaith There are two metals, one of which is omnipotent in the cabinet, and the other in the camp--gold and iron. He that knows how to apply them both may indeed attain the highest station. Charles Caleb Colton irongoldtwo Diffidence is the better part of knowledge. Charles Caleb Colton diffidenceuncertainty Genius in one grand particular is like life. We know nothing of either but by their effects. Charles Caleb Colton talentparticulargenius Success seems to be that which forms the distinction between confidence and conceit. Charles Caleb Colton achievementformsuccess For one man who sincerely pities our misfortunes, there are a thousand who sincerely hate our success. Charles Caleb Colton hatesuccessmen Never join with your friend when he abuses his horse or his wife, unless the one is about to be sold, the other to be buried. Charles Caleb Colton horsewifefunny-friend There can be no Christianity where there is no charity Charles Caleb Colton charitychristianity We ask advice but we mean approbation. Charles Caleb Colton asksadvicemean Where we cannot invent, we may at least improve. Charles Caleb Colton inventionimprovementmay Injuries accompanied with insults are never forgiven: all men, on these occasions, are good haters, and lay out their revenge at compound interest. Charles Caleb Colton insultrevengemen She is deceitful as the calm that precedes the hurricane, smooth as the water on the verge of the cataract, and beautiful as the rainbow, that smiling daughter of the storm; but, like the mirage in the desert, she tantalizes us with a delusion that distance creates, and that contiguity destroys. Charles Caleb Colton stormrainbowdaughter It is far more easy to acquire a fortune like a knave, than to expend it, like a gentleman. Charles Caleb Colton knaveswealthgentleman
