We can be said only to fulfil our destiny in the place that gave us birth. I should on this account like well enough to spend the whole of my life in travelling abroad, if I could anywhere borrow another life to spend afterwards at home! William Hazlitt More Quotes by William Hazlitt More Quotes From William Hazlitt What are the publications that succeed? Those that pretend to teach the public that the persons they have been accustomed unwittingly to look up to as the lights of the earth are no better than themselves. William Hazlitt succeed light looks Talent is the capacity of doing anything that depends on application and industry and it is a voluntary power, while genius is involuntary. William Hazlitt talent genius capacity Time,--the most independent of all things. William Hazlitt independent all-things time A distinction has been made between acuteness and subtlety of understanding. This might be illustrated by saying that acuteness consists in taking up the points or solid atoms, subtlety in feeling the air of truth. William Hazlitt understanding air feelings To think ill of mankind and not wish ill to them, is perhaps the highest wisdom and virtue. William Hazlitt virtue wish thinking Society is a more level surface than we imagine. Wise men or absolute fools are hard to be met with, as there are few giants or dwarfs. William Hazlitt fool wise men We all wear some disguise, make some professions, use some artifice, to set ourselves off as being better than we are; and yet it is not denied that we have some good intentions and praiseworthy qualities at bottom. William Hazlitt good-intentions quality use The greatest reverses of fortune are the most easily borne from a sort of dignity belonging to them. William Hazlitt reverse dignity fortune To write a genuine familiar or truly English style is to write as anyone would speak in common conversation, who had a thorough command and choice of words, or who could discourse with ease, force, and perspicuity, setting aside all pedantic and oratorical flourishes. William Hazlitt style choices writing The greatest pleasure in life is that of reading while we are young. I have had as much of this pleasure perhaps as any one. William Hazlitt reading life-is book Love turns, with a little indulgence, to indifference or disgust; hatred alone is immortal. William Hazlitt indifference hatred littles The severest critics are always those who have either never attempted, or who have failed in original composition. William Hazlitt composition critics originals The fear of approaching death, which in youth we imagine must cause inquietude to the aged, is very seldom the source of much uneasiness. William Hazlitt youth causes death The love of letters is the forlorn hope of the man of letters. His ruling passion is the love of fame. William Hazlitt passion letters men Those only deserve a monument who do not need one. William Hazlitt monument deserve needs Lying is the strongest acknowledgement of the force of truth. William Hazlitt acknowledgement force lying Our opinions are not our own, but in the power of sympathy. If a person tells us a palpable falsehood, we not only dare not contradict him, but we dare hardly disbelieve him to his face. A lie boldly uttered has the effect of truth for the instant. William Hazlitt opinion faces lying Reflection brakes men cowards. There is no object that can be put in competition with life, unless it is viewed through the medium of passion, and we are hurried away by the impulse of the moment. William Hazlitt passion reflection men An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence; a vain man, in order that it may. William Hazlitt truth men order Every man, in judging of himself, is his own contemporary. He may feel the gale of popularity, but he cannot tell how long it will last. His opinion of himself wants distance, wants time, wants numbers, to set it off and confirm it. William Hazlitt distance numbers men
