Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect, change is the way to perfect them. Owen Feltham More Quotes by Owen Feltham More Quotes From Owen Feltham Any man shall speak the better when he knows what others have said, and sometimes the consciousness of his inward knowledge gives a confidence to his outward behavior, which of all other is the best thing to grace a man in his carriage. Owen Feltham grace giving men A sentence well couched takes both the sense and understanding. I love not those cart-rope speeches that are longer than the memory of man can fathom. Owen Feltham understanding men memories Gold is the fool's curtain, which hides all his defects from the world. Owen Feltham fool gold world Knowledge is the treasure of the mind, but discretion is the key to it, without which it is useless. The practical part of wisdom is the best. Owen Feltham useless keys mind Surely, if we considered detraction to be bred of envy, nested only in deficient minds, we should find that the applauding of virtue would win us far more honor than the seeking slyly to disparage it. That would show we loved what we commended, while this tells the world we grudge at what we want in ourselves. Owen Feltham envy honor winning Works without faith are like a fish without water, it wants the element it should live in. A building without a basis cannot stand; faith is the foundation, and every good action is as a stone laid. Owen Feltham faith want water Zeal without humanity is like a ship without a rudder, liable to be stranded at any moment Owen Feltham sailing ships humanity There is no belittling worse than to over praise a man. Owen Feltham belittle praise men Promises may get friends, but it is performance that must nurse and keep them. Owen Feltham nurse friendship promise Discontent is like ink poured into water, which fills the whole fountain full of blackness. Owen Feltham fountain ink water All men will be Peters in their bragging tongue, and most men will be Peters in their base denial; but few men will be Peters in their quick repentance. Owen Feltham denial tongue men How many would die did not hope sustain them. Owen Feltham dies anticipation He who would be singular in his apparel had need have something superlative to balance that affectation. Owen Feltham balance would-be needs We pick our own sorrows out of the joys of other men, and from their sorrows likewise we derive our joys. Owen Feltham sorrow joy men Vice is a peripatetic, always in progression. Owen Feltham progression vices God has made no one absolute. The rich depend on the poor, as well as the poor on the rich. The world is but a magnificent building; all the stones are gradually cemented together. No one subsists by himself. Owen Feltham stones together world Virtue is the truest liberty. Owen Feltham truest virtue liberty Virtue dwells at the head of a river, to which we cannot get but by rowing against the stream. Owen Feltham rowing virtue rivers Take heed of a speedy professing friend; love is never lasting which flames before it burns. Owen Feltham friends flames love-is Where there is plenty, charity is a duty, not a courtesy Owen Feltham alms courtesy charity
