There is some virtue in almost every vice, except hypocrisy; and even that, while it is a mockery of virtue, is at the same time a compliment to it. William Hazlitt More Quotes by William Hazlitt More Quotes From William Hazlitt The essence of poetry is will and passion. William Hazlitt passion poetry-is essence We can scarcely hate anyone that we know. William Hazlitt community hate hatred I hate to be near the sea, and to hear it roaring and raging like a wild beast in its den. It puts me in mind of the everlasting efforts of the human mind, struggling to be free, and ending just where it began. William Hazlitt hate struggle sea Without the aid of prejudice and custom, I should not be able to find my way across the room. William Hazlitt prejudice able way There are few things in which we deceive ourselves more than in the esteem we profess to entertain for our firends. It is little better than a piece of quackery. The truth is, we think of them as we please, that is, as they please or displease us. William Hazlitt hype pieces thinking They are, as it were, train-bearers in the pageant of life, and hold a glass up to humanity, frailer than itself. We see ourselves at second-hand in them: they show us all that we are, all that we wish to be, and all that we dread to be. What brings the resemblance nearer is, that, as they imitate us, we, in our turn, imitate them. There is no class of society whom so many persons regard with affection as actors. William Hazlitt glasses life hands A full-dressed ecclesiastic is a sort of go-cart of divinity; an ethical automaton. A clerical prig is, in general, a very dangerous as well as contemptible character. The utmost that those who thus habitually confound their opinions and sentiments with the outside coverings of their bodies can aspire to, is a negative and neutral character, like wax-work figures, where the dress is done as much to the life as the man, and where both are respectable pieces of pasteboard, or harmless compositions of fleecy hosiery. William Hazlitt character men life There is nothing more likely to drive a man mad, than the being unable to get rid of the idea of the distinction between right and wrong, and an obstinate, constitutional preference of the true to the agreeable. William Hazlitt integrity men ideas If we wish to know the force of human genius, we should read Shakespeare. If we wish to see the insignificance of human learning, we may study his commentators. William Hazlitt intelligence reading wish Few things tend more to alienate friendship than a want of punctuality in our engagements. I have known the breach of a promise to dine or sup to break up more than one intimacy. William Hazlitt breakup friendship promise We can bear to be deprived of everything but our self-conceit. William Hazlitt conceited self bears Political truth is libel; religious truth, blasphemy. William Hazlitt political truth religious Shall I faint, now that I have poured out the spirit of my mind to the world, and treated many subjects with truth, with freedom, with power, because I have been followed with one cry of abuse ever since for not being a Government tool? William Hazlitt abuse government mind The public have neither shame or gratitude. William Hazlitt shame gratitude The best kind of conversation is that which may be called thinking aloud. William Hazlitt kind may thinking A great chessplayer is not a great man, for he leaves the world as he found it. William Hazlitt great-men men world The way to get on in the world is to be neither more nor less wise, neither better nor worse than your neighbours. William Hazlitt wise way world There is a heroism in crime as well as in virtue. Vice and infamy have their altars and their religion. William Hazlitt heroism virtue vices Perhaps propriety is as near a word as any to denote the manners of the gentleman; elegance is necessary to the fine gentleman; dignity is proper to noblemen; and majesty to kings. William Hazlitt noblemen gentleman kings To a superior race of being the pretensions of mankind to extraordinary sanctity and virtue must seem... ridiculous. William Hazlitt ridiculous virtue race
