Perfection doesn't exist... only good attempts. Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes From Charles Caleb Colton Women do not transgress the bounds of decorum so often as men; but when they do, they go greater lengths. Charles Caleb Colton decorum length women Women that are the least bashful are often the most modest. Charles Caleb Colton bashful modest women In answering an opponent, arrange your ideas, but not your words. Charles Caleb Colton opponents ideas Those who worship gold in a world so corrupt as this we live in have at least one thing to plead in defense of their idolatry--the power of their idol. It is true that, like other idols, it can neither move, see, hear, feel, nor understand; but, unlike other idols, it has often communicated all these powers to those who had them not, and annihilated them in those who had. This idol can boast of two peculiarities; it is worshipped in all climates, without a single temple, and by all classes, without a single hypocrite. Charles Caleb Colton hypocrite idols moving A leveller has long ago been set down as a ridiculous and chimerical being, who, if he could finish his work to-day, would have to begin it again tomorrow. Charles Caleb Colton ridiculous long-ago equality There is a holy love and a holy rage, and our best virtues never glow so brightly as when our passions are excited in the cause. Sloth, if it has prevented many crimes, has also smothered many virtues; and the best of us are better when roused. Charles Caleb Colton passion causes sloth Like the rainbow, peace rests upon the earth, but its arch is lost in heaven. Heaven bathes it in hues of light--it springs up amid tears and clouds--it is a reflection of the eternal sun--it is an assurance of calm--it is the sign of a great covenant between God and man--it is an emanation from the distant orb of immortal light. Charles Caleb Colton reflection spring peace Peace is the evening star of the soul, as virtue is its sun, and the two are never far apart. Charles Caleb Colton stars peace two Power, like the diamond, dazzles the beholder, and also the wearer; it dignifies meanness; it magnifies littleness; to what is contemptible, it gives authority; to what is low, exaltation. Charles Caleb Colton exaltation power giving There are three kinds of power,--wealth, strength, and talent; but as old age always weakens, often destroys, the two latter, the aged are induced to cling with the greater avidity to the former. Charles Caleb Colton power age two A public debt is a kind of anchor in the storm; but if the anchor be too heavy for the vessel, she will be sunk by that very weight which was intended for her preservation. Charles Caleb Colton debt storm anchors If once a woman breaks through the barriers of decency, her ease is desperate; and if she goes greater lengths than the men, and leaves the pale of propriety farther behind her, it is because she is aware that all return is prohibited, and by none so strongly as by her own sex. Charles Caleb Colton break-through men sex Deformity of the heart I call Charles Caleb Colton soul faces heart We strive as hard to hide our hearts from ourselves as from others, and always with more success; for in deciding upon our own case we are both judge, jury, and executioner, and where sophistry cannot overcome the first, or flattery the second, self-love is always ready to defeat the sentence by bribing the third. Charles Caleb Colton self heart love-is Despotism can no more exist in a nation until the liberty of the press be destroyed than the night can happen before the sun is set. Charles Caleb Colton liberty sun night Doubt is the vestibule of faith. Charles Caleb Colton doubt Dreams ought to produce no conviction whatever on philosophical minds. If we consider how many dreams are dreamt every night, and how many events occur every day, we shall no longer wonder at those accidental coincidences which ignorance mistakes for verifications. Charles Caleb Colton philosophical dream mistake Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach us something. Can any of the tribe inform us why all the operations of the mind are carried on with undiminished strength and activity in dreams, except the judgment, which alone is suspended and dormant? Charles Caleb Colton mind dream years The acquirements of science maybe termed the armor of the mind. Charles Caleb Colton armor mind education Strong as our passions are, they may be starved into submission, and conquered without being killed. Charles Caleb Colton passion strong may
