When I'm not thanked at all, I'm thanked enough, I've done my duty, and I've done no more. Henry Fielding More Quotes by Henry Fielding More Quotes From Henry Fielding As it often happens that the best men are but little known, and consequently cannot extend the usefulness of their examples a great way, the biographer is of great utility, as, by communicating such valuable patterns to the world, he may perhaps do a more extensive service to mankind than the person whose life originally afforded the pattern. Henry Fielding examplemenworld Wisdom is the talent of buying virtuous pleasures at the cheapest rate. Henry Fielding talentpleasurebuying However exquisitely human nature may have been described by writers, the true practical system can be learned only in the world. Henry Fielding human-naturemayworld A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all. Henry Fielding good-manlessonsmen Wicked companions invite us to hell. Henry Fielding companionwickedhell I look upon the vulgar observation, 'That the devil often deserts his friends, and leaves them in the lurch,' to be a great abuse on that gentleman's character. Perhaps he may sometimes desert those who are only his cup acquaintance; or who, at most, are but half his; but he generally stands by those who are thoroughly his servants, and helps them off in all extremities, till their bargain expires. Henry Fielding abusegentlemancharacter As a conquered rebellion strengthens a government, or as health is more perfectly established by recovery from some diseases; so anger, when removed, often gives new life to affection. Henry Fielding recoveryangergovernment Dignity and love were never yet boon companions. Henry Fielding boondignityand-love Love may be likened to a disease in this respect, that when it is denied a vent in one part, it will certainly break out in another; hence what a woman's lips often conceal, her eyes, her blushes, and many little involuntary actions betray. Henry Fielding break-outeyelove It is with jealousy as with the gout. When such distempers are in the blood, there is never any security against their breaking out, and that often on the slightest occasions, and when least suspected. Henry Fielding jealousygoutblood It is an error common to many to take the character of mankind from the worst and basest amongst them; whereas, as an excellent writer has observed, nothing should be esteemed as characteristical, of a species but what is to be found amongst the best and the most perfect individuals of that species. Henry Fielding errorsperfectcharacter Habit hath so vast a prevalence over the human mind that there is scarce anything too strange or too strong to be asserted of it. The story of the miser who, from long accustoming to cheat others, came at last to cheat himself, and with great delight and triumph picked his own pocket of a guinea to convey to his hoard, is not impossible or improbable. Henry Fielding strongmindlong The greatest part of mankind labor under one delirium or another; and Don Quixote differed from the rest, not in madness, but the species of it. The covetous, the prodigal, the superstitious, the libertine, and the coffee-house politician, are all Quixotes in their several ways. Henry Fielding coffeehouseway The man who is wantonly profuse of his promises ought to sink his credit as much as a tradesman would by uttering a great number of promissory notes payable at a distant day. The truest conclusion in both cases is, that neither intend or will be able to pay. And as the latter most probably intends to cheat you of your money, so the former at least designs to cheat you of your thanks. Henry Fielding designnumbersmen There are those who never reason on what they should do, but what they have done; as if Reason had her eyes behind, and could only see backwards. Henry Fielding eyedonereason The raillery which is consistent with good-breeding is a gentle animadversion of some foible, which, while it raises the laugh in the rest of the company, doth not put the person rallied out of countenance, or expose him to shame or contempt. On the contrary, the jest should be so delicate that the object of it should be capable of joining in the mirth it occasions. Henry Fielding joining-inmirthlaughing We should not be too hasty in bestowing either our praise or censure on mankind, since we shall often find such a mixture of good and evil in the same character, that it may require a very accurate judgment and a very elaborate inquiry to determine on which side the balance turns. Henry Fielding balanceevilcharacter Though we may sometimes unintentionally bestow our beneficence on the unworthy, it does not take from the merit of the act. For charity doth not adopt the vices of its objects. Henry Fielding charityvicesdoe As the malicious disposition of mankind is too well known, and the cruel pleasure which they take in destroying the reputation of others, the use we are to make of this knowledge is, to afford no handle for reproach; for bad as the world is, it seldom falls on anyone who hath not given some slight cause for censure. Henry Fielding useworldfall Success is a fruit of slow growth. Henry Fielding fruitgrowthsuccess
