To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than their own hearts in their closet. Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes From Charles Caleb Colton Wit may do very well for a mistress, but [I] should prefer reason for a wife. Charles Caleb Colton mistresswifemay Imitation is the highest form of flattery. Charles Caleb Colton flatteryimitationinspirational That writer does the most who gives his reader the most knowledge and takes from him the least time. Charles Caleb Colton literaturedoegiving Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed. Charles Caleb Colton freedomblessingpeople Nothing more completely baffles one who is full of trick and duplicity himself, than straight forward and simple integrity in another. Charles Caleb Colton honestytruthintegrity Suicide sometimes proceeds from cowardice, but not always; for cowardice sometimes prevents it; since as many live because they are afraid to die, as die because they are afraid to live. Charles Caleb Colton sadsuicidedeath There are two way of establishing a reputation, one to be praised by honest people and the other to be accused by rogues. It is best, however, to secure the first one, because it will always be accompanied by the latter. Charles Caleb Colton twopeopleway Ladies of Fashion starve their happiness to feed their vanity, and their love to feed their pride. Charles Caleb Colton clothesfashionpride Time, the cradle of hope.... Wisdom walks before it, opportunity with it, and repentance behind it: he that has made it his friend will have little to fear from his enemies, but he that has made it his enemy will have little to hope from his friends. Charles Caleb Colton opportunitytimeenemy Pride is less ashamed of being ignorant, than of being instructed, and she looks too high to find that, which very often lies beneath her. Charles Caleb Colton ignorantpridelying Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace. The brightest thunder-bolt is elicited from the darkest storm. Charles Caleb Colton encouragementleadershiphope Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer. Charles Caleb Colton teachingeducationknowledge Commerce flourishes by circumstances, precarious, transitory, contingent, almost as the winds and waves that bring it to our shores. Charles Caleb Colton waveliteraturewind If it be true that men of strong imaginations are usually dogmatists--and I am inclined to think it is so--it ought to follow that men of weak imaginations are the reverse; in which case we should have some compensation for stupidity. But it unfortunately happens that no dogmatist is more obstinate or less open to conviction than a fool. Charles Caleb Colton strongmenthinking There are three modes of bearing the ills of life; by indifference, which is the most common; by philosophy, which is the most ostentatious; and by religion, which is the most effectual. Charles Caleb Colton threeliteraturephilosophy Constant success shows us but one side of the world. For as it surrounds us with friends who will tell us only our merits, so it silences those enemies from whom alone we can learn our defects. Charles Caleb Colton achievementsilencesuccess Self-denial is often the sacrifice of one sort of self-love for another. Charles Caleb Colton denialsacrificeself The head of dullness, unlike the tail of the torpedo, loses nothing of the benumbing and lethargizing influence by reiterated discharges. Charles Caleb Colton torpedoesinfluencetails A coxcomb begins by determining that his own profession is the first; and he finishes by deciding that he is the first of profession. Charles Caleb Colton professionfirsts There are truths which some men despise because they have not examined, and which they will not examine because they despise. There is one signal instance on record where this kind of prejudice was overcome by a miracle; but the age of miracles is past, while that of prejudice remains. Charles Caleb Colton miraclemenpast