Two things, well considered, would prevent many quarrels: first, to have it well ascertained whether we are not disputing about terms, rather than things; and, secondly, to examine whether that on which we differ is worth contending about. Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes by Charles Caleb Colton More Quotes From Charles Caleb Colton The family is the most basic unit of government. As the first community to which a person is attached and the first authority under which a person learns to live, the family establishes society's most basic values. Charles Caleb Colton family government home Ambition makes the same mistake concerning power that avarice makes concerning wealth. She begins by accumulating power as a means to happiness, and she finishes by continuing to accumulate it as an end. Charles Caleb Colton ambition mistake happiness Expect not praise without envy until you are dead. Charles Caleb Colton envy humor praise Were we as eloquent as angels we still would please people much more by listening rather than talking. Charles Caleb Colton angel talking people He that has never suffered extreme adversity knows not the full extent of his own depravation. Charles Caleb Colton extremes adversity knows My lowest days as a Christian have been more fulfilling and rewarding than all the days of glory in the White House. Charles Caleb Colton christian white house If rich, it is easy enough to conceal our wealth; but, if poor, it is not quite so easy to conceal our poverty. We shall find that it is less difficult to hide a thousand guineas, than one hole in our coat. Charles Caleb Colton coats wealth poverty The poorest man would not part with health for money, but the richest would gladly part with all their money for health. Charles Caleb Colton poverty health men The science of mathematics performs more than it promises, but the science of metaphysics promises more than it performs. Charles Caleb Colton metaphysics mathematics promise Men's arguments often prove nothing but their wishes. Charles Caleb Colton argument wish men Pain may be said to follow pleasure as its shadow; but the misfortune is that in this particular case, the substance belongs to the shadow, the emptiness to its cause. Charles Caleb Colton shadow pain substance Pain may be said to follow pleasure as its shadow. Charles Caleb Colton shadow pain may The three great apostles of practical atheism, that make converts without persecuting, and retain them without preaching, are wealth, health and power. Charles Caleb Colton wealth atheism three Pure truth, like pure gold, has been found unfit for circulation because men have discovered that it is far more convenient to adulterate the truth than to refine themselves. Charles Caleb Colton truth fear men We should not be too niggardly in our praise, for men will do more to support a character than to raise one. Charles Caleb Colton support character men There are three kinds of praise, that which we yield, that which we lend, and that which we pay. We yield it to the powerful from fear, we lend it to the weak from interest, and we pay it to the deserving from gratitude. Charles Caleb Colton yield gratitude powerful No man can purchase his virtue too dear, for it is the only thing whose value must ever increase with the price it has cost us. Our integrity is never worth so much as when we have parted with our all to keep it. Charles Caleb Colton cost integrity men I will not be revenged, and this I owe to my enemy; but I will remember, and this I owe to myself. Charles Caleb Colton revenge remember enemy By paying our other debts, we are equal with all mankind; but in refusing to pay a debt of revenge, we are superior. Charles Caleb Colton debt revenge pay An act by which we make one friend and one enemy is a losing game; because revenge is a much stronger principle than gratitude Charles Caleb Colton gratitude revenge games
