Some people pass through life soberly and religiously enough, without knowing way, or reasoning about it, but, from force of habit merely, go to heaven like fools. Laurence Sterne More Quotes by Laurence Sterne More Quotes From Laurence Sterne I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it. Laurence Sterne eyesimplelife Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners. Laurence Sterne ethicsrespectself-esteem Men tire themselves in pursuit of rest. Laurence Sterne pursuittiremen Only the brave know how to forgive... a coward never forgave; it is not in his nature. Laurence Sterne forgivenessforgivingbrave 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 eyeheartadventure Freethinkers are generally those who never think at all. Laurence Sterne freethinkerinfidelitythinking 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 kingsmenpeace In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself. Laurence Sterne strengthlonelinesswisdom Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other. Laurence Sterne painlightsuccess 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 educationfatherknowledge 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 platolove-ismen An English man does not travel to see English men. Laurence Sterne doementravel Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation. Laurence Sterne writingtalkingthinking For I begin with writing the first sentence, — and trusting to Almighty God for the second. Laurence Sterne nextwritingfirsts An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand. Laurence Sterne ableactorshands I had had an affair with the moon, in which there was neither sin nor shame. Laurence Sterne shamesinmoon Sciences may be learned by rote, but wisdom not. Laurence Sterne intelligencewisdomscience 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 bookideasthinking 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 greatnessmenart 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 motherwishfather
