So that the life of a writer, whatever he might fancy to the contrary, was not so much a state of composition, as a state of warfare; and his probation in it, precisely that of any other man militant upon earth,--both depending alike, not half so much upon the degrees of his WIT--as his RESISTANCE.

Laurence Sterne

Categorized in : Men Earth Half

I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.

Laurence Sterne

eye simple life

Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.

Laurence Sterne

ethics respect self-esteem

Men tire themselves in pursuit of rest.

Laurence Sterne

pursuit tire men

Only the brave know how to forgive... a coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.

Laurence Sterne

forgiveness forgiving brave

What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life by him who interests his heart in every thing, and who, having eyes to see, what time and chance are perpetually holding out to him as he journeyeth on his way, misses nothing he can fairly lay his hands on.

Laurence Sterne

eye heart adventure

Freethinkers are generally those who never think at all.

Laurence Sterne

freethinker infidelity thinking

So long as a man rides his hobbyhorse peaceably and quietly along the King's highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him - pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?

Laurence Sterne

kings men peace

In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.

Laurence Sterne

strength loneliness wisdom

Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.

Laurence Sterne

pain light success

Every thing in this world, said my father, is big with jest,--and has wit in it, and instruction too,--if we can but find it out.

Laurence Sterne

education father knowledge

To saya man is fallen in love,or that he is deeply in love,or up to the ears in love,and sometimes even over head and ears in it,carries an idiomatical kind of implication, that love is a thing below a man:this is recurring again to Plato's opinion, which, with all his divinityship,I hold to be damnable and heretical:and so much for that. Let love therefore be what it will,my uncleToby fell into it.

Laurence Sterne

plato love-is men

An English man does not travel to see English men.

Laurence Sterne

doe men travel

Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.

Laurence Sterne

writing talking thinking

For I begin with writing the first sentence, — and trusting to Almighty God for the second.

Laurence Sterne

next writing firsts

An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.

Laurence Sterne

able actors hands

I had had an affair with the moon, in which there was neither sin nor shame.

Laurence Sterne

shame sin moon

Sciences may be learned by rote, but wisdom not.

Laurence Sterne

intelligence wisdom science

I often derive a peculiar satisfaction in conversing with the ancient and modern dead, — who yet live and speak excellently in their works. My neighbors think me often alone, — and yet at such times I am in company with more than five hundred mutes — each of whom, at my pleasure, communicates his ideas to me by dumb signs — quite as intelligently as any person living can do by uttering of words.

Laurence Sterne

book ideas thinking

If thou art rich, then show the greatness of thy fortune; or what is better, the greatness of thy soul, in the meekness of thy conversation; condescend to men of low estate, support the distressed, and patronize the neglected. Be great.

Laurence Sterne

greatness men art

I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me.

Laurence Sterne

mother wish father