Pure truth, like pure gold, has been found unfit for circulation because men have discovered that it is far more convenient to adulterate the truth than to refine themselves. Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes From Charles Caleb Colton Brutes leave ingratitude to man. Charles Caleb Colton ingratitudebrutesmen Knavery is supple, and can bend, but honesty is firm and upright and yields not. Charles Caleb Colton knaveryyieldhonesty A thorough-paced knave will rarely quarrel with one whom he can cheat: his revenge is plunder; therefore he is usually the most forgiving of beings, upon the principle that if he come to an open rupture, he must defend himself; and this does not suit a man whose vocation it is to keep his hands in the pocket of another. Charles Caleb Colton revengemenhands He that dies a martyr proves that he was not a knave, but by no means that he was not a fool; since the most absurd doctrines are not without such evidence as martyrdom can produce. A martyr, therefore, by the mere act of suffering, can prove nothing but his own faith. Charles Caleb Colton doctrinesufferingmean If martyrdom is now on the decline, it is not because martyrs are less zealous, but because martyr-mongers are more wise. The light of intellect has put out the fire of persecution, as other fires are observed to smoulder before the light of the same. Charles Caleb Colton lightfirewise The martyrs to vice far exceed the martyrs to virtue, both in endurance and in number. Charles Caleb Colton endurancevicesnumbers As that gallant can best affect a pretended passion for one woman who has no true love for another, so he that has no real esteem for any of the virtues can best assume the appearance of them all. Charles Caleb Colton deceitpassionreal Some frauds succeed from the apparent candor, the open confidence, and the full blaze of ingenuousness that is thrown around them. The slightest mystery would excite suspicion and ruin all. Such stratagems may be compared to the stars; they are discoverable by darkness and hidden only by light. Charles Caleb Colton starslightdarkness The good opinion of our fellow men is the strongest, though not the purest motive to virtue. Charles Caleb Colton opinionfellow-manmen When all run by common consent into vice, none appear to do so. Charles Caleb Colton vicescommonrunning Vice has more martyrs than virtue; and it often happens that men suffer more to be lost than to be saved. Charles Caleb Colton vicessufferingmen Women generally consider consequences in love, seldom in resentment. Charles Caleb Colton consequenceresentmentwomen For what are the triumphs of war, planned by ambition, executed by violence, and consummated by devastation? The means are the sacrifice of many, the end, the bloated aggrandizement of the few. Charles Caleb Colton ambitionwarmean War is a game in which princes seldom win, the people never. Charles Caleb Colton gameswinningwar A youth without fire is followed by an old age without experience. Charles Caleb Colton youthfireage The young fancy that their follies are mistaken by the old for happiness. The old fancy that their gravity is mistaken by the young for wisdom. Charles Caleb Colton gravityfancyyoung Wealth is a relative thing since those who have little and want less are richer than those who have much but want more. Charles Caleb Colton wealthwantlittles No one knows where he who invented the plow was born, nor where he died; yet he has done more for humanity than the whole race of heroes who have drenched the earth with blood and whose deeds have been handed down with a precision proportionate only to the mischief they wrought. Charles Caleb Colton raceheroblood It is not so difficult a task to plant new truths, as to root out old errors; for there is this paradox in men, they run after that which is new, but are prejudiced in favor of that which is old. Charles Caleb Colton errorsrunningmen Philosophy is a goddess, whose head indeed is in heaven, but whose feet are upon earth; she attempts more than she accomplishes, and promises more than she performs. Charles Caleb Colton feetphilosophyheaven
