That which we acquire with the most difficulty we retain the longest; as those who have earned a fortune are usually more careful of it than those who have inherited one. Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes From Charles Caleb Colton Insults are engendered from vulgar minds, like toadstools from a dunghill. Charles Caleb Colton toadstoolsinsultmind If often happens too, both in courts and in cabinets, that there are two things going on together,--a main plot and an under-plot; and he that understands only one of them will, in all probability, be the dupe of both. A mistress may rule a monarch, but some obscure favorite may rule the mistress. Charles Caleb Colton mistresstogethertwo There are many women who have never intrigued, and many men who have never gamed; but those who have done either but once are very extraordinary animals. Charles Caleb Colton doneanimalmen Jealousy is sustained as often by pride as by affection. Charles Caleb Colton affectionjealousypride Light, whether it be material or moral, is the best reformer. Charles Caleb Colton moralmaterialslight Literature has her quacks no less than medicine, and they are divided into two classes; those who have erudition without genius, and those who have volubility without depth; we shall get second-hand sense from the one, and original nonsense from the other. Charles Caleb Colton classtwohands Logic and metaphysics make use of more tools than all the rest of the sciences put together, and do the least work. Charles Caleb Colton toolsusetogether There are circumstances of peculiar difficulty and danger, where a mediocrity of talent is the most fatal quantum that a man can possibly possess. Had Charles the First and Louis the Sixteenth been more wise or more weak, more firm or more yielding, in either case they had both of them saved their heads. Charles Caleb Colton peculiarwisemen There were moments of despondency when Shakespeare thought himself no poet, and Raphael no painter; when the greatest wits have doubted the excellence of their happiest efforts. Charles Caleb Colton melancholyeffortexcellence He that studies only men will get the body of knowledge without the soul; and he that studies only books, the soul without the body. Charles Caleb Colton soulmenbook Miss Edgeworth and Mme. de Stael have proved that there is no sex in style; and Mme. la Roche Jacqueline, and the Duchesse d'Angouleme have proved that there is no sex in courage. Charles Caleb Colton stylemissingsex Perhaps that is nearly the perfection of good writing which is original, but whose truth alone prevents the reader from suspecting that it is so; and which effects that for knowledge which the lens effects for the sunbeam, when it condenses its brightness in order to increase its force. Charles Caleb Colton perfectionwritingorder The excesses of our youth are drafts upon our old age. Charles Caleb Colton excesswasteage The inheritance of a distinguished and noble name is a proud inheritance to him who lives worthily of it. Charles Caleb Colton inheritancenoblenames A power above all human responsibility ought to be above all human attainment. Charles Caleb Colton attainmenthumansresponsibility There are many that despise half the world; but if there be any that despise the whole of it, it is because the other half despises them. Charles Caleb Colton hatehalfworld Most men know what they hate, few what they love. Charles Caleb Colton love-hatehatemen He that can please nobody is not so much to be pitied as he that nobody can please. Charles Caleb Colton please Let us not be too prodigal when we are young, nor too parsimonious when we are old. Otherwise we shall fall into the common error of those, who, when they had the power to enjoy, had not the prudence to acquire; and when they had the prudence to acquire, had no longer the power to enjoy. Charles Caleb Colton errorscommonfall Short as life is, some find it long enough to outlive their characters, their constitutions and their estates. Charles Caleb Colton agingcharacterlong
