Talk not of love: thou never knew'st its force. Joseph Addison More Quotes by Joseph Addison More Quotes From Joseph Addison I never knew a critic who made it his business to lash the faults of other writers that was not guilty of greater himself--as the hangman is generally a worse malefactor than the criminal that suffers by his hand. Joseph Addison criminalssufferinghands The most exquisite words and finest strokes of an author are those which very often appear the most doubtful and exceptionable to a man who wants a relish for polite learning; and they are those which a sour undistinguishing critic generally attacks with the greatest violence. Joseph Addison violencewantmen Cunning has only private selfish aims, and sticks at nothing which may make them succeed. Discretion has large and extended views, and, like a well-formed eye, commands a whole horizon; cunning is a kind of shortsightedness, that discovers the minutest objects which are near at hand, but is not able to discern things at a distance. Joseph Addison selfishdistanceeye I have always preferred cheerfulness to mirth. The latter I consider as an act, the former as a habit of mind. Mirth is short and transient, cheerfulness fixed and permanent. Joseph Addison mirthoptimismmind Devotion, when it does not lie under the check of reason, is apt to degenerate into enthusiasm. Joseph Addison enthusiasmdoelying Every passion gives a particular cast to the countenance, and is apt to discover itself in some feature or other. I have seen an eye curse for half an hour together, and an eyebrow call a man a scoundrel. Joseph Addison passioneyemen True religion and virtue give a cheerful and happy turn to the mind, admit of all true pleasures, and even procure for us the highest. Joseph Addison mindgivingreligion Riches are apt to betray a man into arrogance. Joseph Addison arrogancepridemen The care of our national commerce redounds more to the riches and prosperity of the public than any other act of government. Joseph Addison richescaregovernment It is observed by Cicero, that men of the greatest and most shining parts are most actuated by ambition. Joseph Addison shiningambitionmen A misery is not to be measure from the nature of the evil but from the temper of the sufferer. Joseph Addison angernatureevil There is a kind of grandeur and respect which the meanest and most insignificant part of mankind endeavor to procure in the little circle of their friends and acquaintance. The poorest mechanic, nay, the man who lives upon common alms, gets him his set of admirers, and delights in that superiority which he enjoys over those who are in some respects beneath him. This ambition, which is natural to the soul of man, might, methinks, receive a very happy turn; and, if it were rightly directed, contribute as much to a person's advantage, as it generally does to his uneasiness and disquiet. Joseph Addison circlesambitionmen By anticipation we sugar misery and enjoy happiness before they are in being. We can set the sun and stars forward, or lose sight of them by wandering into those retired parts of eternity when the heavens and earth shall be no more. Joseph Addison starssightheaven A well regulated commerce is not, like law, physic, or divinity, to be overstocked with hands; but, on the contrary, flourishes by multitudes, and gives employment to all its professors. Joseph Addison lawgivinghands We are apt to rely upon future prospects, and become really expensive while we are only rich in possibility. We live up to our expectations, not to our possessions, and make a figure proportionable to what we may be, not what we are. Joseph Addison rely-uponexpectationsmay Most of our fellow-subjects are guided either by the prejudice of education or by a deference to the judgment of those who perhaps in their own hearts disapprove the opinions which they industriously spread among the multitude. Joseph Addison prejudiceopinionheart There are no more useful members in a commonwealth than merchants. They knit mankind together in a mutual intercourse of good offices, distribute the gifts of Nature, find work for the poor, and wealth to the rich, and magnificence to the great. Joseph Addison magnificenceofficetogether Complaisance renders a superior amiable, an equal agreeable, and an inferior acceptable. Joseph Addison inferiorscomplacencyequal Music, the greatest good that mortals know, Joseph Addison musicartmoving When love's well-timed 'tis not a fault to love; Joseph Addison strongwiselife
