There are some frauds so well conducted that it would be stupidity not to be deceived by them. Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes From Charles Caleb Colton To diminish envy, let us consider not what others possess, but what they enjoy; mere riches may be the gift of lucky accident or blind chance, but happiness must be the result of prudent preference and rational design; the highest happiness then can have no other foundation than the deepest wisdom; and the happiest fool is only as happy as he knows how to be. Charles Caleb Colton envy design may Error, when she retraces her steps, has farther to go before she can arrive at truth than ignorance. Charles Caleb Colton errors ignorance steps The blindness of bigotry, the madness of ambition, and the miscalculations of diplomacy seek their victims principally amongst the innocent and the unoffending. The cottage is sure to suffer for every error of the court, the cabinet, or the camp. When error sits in the seat of power and of authority, and is generated in high places, it may be compared to that torrent which originates indeed in the mountain, but commits its devastation in the vale. Charles Caleb Colton errors ambition suffering He that will often put eternity and the world before him, and who will dare to look steadfastly at both of them, will find that the more often he contemplates them, the former will grow greater, and the latter less. Charles Caleb Colton eternity looks world I question if Epicurus and Hume have done mankind a greater service by the looseness of their doctrines than by the purity of their lives. Of such men we may more justly exclaim, than of Caesar, "Confound their virtues, they've undone the world! Charles Caleb Colton doctrine example men The greatest miracle that the Almighty could perform would be to make a bad man happy, even in heaven; he must unparadise that blessed place to accomplish it. In its primary signification, all vice--that is, all excess--brings its own punishment even here. Charles Caleb Colton miracle blessed men Too high an appreciation of our own talents is the chief cause why experience preaches to us all in vain. Charles Caleb Colton experience causes appreciation That extremes beget extremes is an apothegm built on the most profound observation of the human mind. Charles Caleb Colton observation mind profound Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith is the soul of religion, and works the body. Charles Caleb Colton spiritual christian faith There are two metals, one of which is omnipotent in the cabinet, and the other in the camp--gold and iron. He that knows how to apply them both may indeed attain the highest station. Charles Caleb Colton iron gold two Diffidence is the better part of knowledge. Charles Caleb Colton diffidence uncertainty Genius in one grand particular is like life. We know nothing of either but by their effects. Charles Caleb Colton talent particular genius Success seems to be that which forms the distinction between confidence and conceit. Charles Caleb Colton achievement form success For one man who sincerely pities our misfortunes, there are a thousand who sincerely hate our success. Charles Caleb Colton hate success men Never join with your friend when he abuses his horse or his wife, unless the one is about to be sold, the other to be buried. Charles Caleb Colton horse wife funny-friend There can be no Christianity where there is no charity Charles Caleb Colton charity christianity We ask advice but we mean approbation. Charles Caleb Colton asks advice mean Where we cannot invent, we may at least improve. Charles Caleb Colton invention improvement may Injuries accompanied with insults are never forgiven: all men, on these occasions, are good haters, and lay out their revenge at compound interest. Charles Caleb Colton insult revenge men She is deceitful as the calm that precedes the hurricane, smooth as the water on the verge of the cataract, and beautiful as the rainbow, that smiling daughter of the storm; but, like the mirage in the desert, she tantalizes us with a delusion that distance creates, and that contiguity destroys. Charles Caleb Colton storm rainbow daughter
