Quotes By Charles Caleb Colton

To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail, our pride supports us - when we succeed, it betrays us.

If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you, fill her above the brim with love of herself; all that runs over will be yours.

He who studies books alone will know how things ought to be, and he who studies men will know how they are.

Corruption is like a ball of snow, once it's set a rolling it must increase.

Wealth after all is a relative thing since he that has little and wants less is richer than he that has much and wants more.

No company is preferable to bad. We are more apt to catch the vices of others than virtues, as disease is far more contagious than health.

Of present fame think little, and of future less; the praises that we receive after we are buried, like the flowers that are strewed over our grave, may be gratifying to the living, but they are nothing to the dead.

It is always safe to learn, even from our enemies; seldom safe to venture to instruct, even our friends.

Tyrants have not yet discovered any chains that can fetter the mind.

Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.

Did universal charity prevail, earth would be a heaven, and hell a fable.

The society of dead authors has this advantage over that of the living: they never flatter us to our faces, nor slander us behind our backs, nor intrude upon our privacy, nor quit their shelves until we take them down.

If we steal thoughts from the moderns, it will be cried down as plagiarism; if from the ancients, it will be cried up as erudition.

Men are born with two eyes, but with one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say.

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.

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.

Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen. Like friends, too, we should return to them again and again for, like true friends, they will never fail us - never cease to instruct - never cloy.

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.

Friendship, of itself a holy tie, is made more sacred by adversity.

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.

The present time has one advantage over every other - it is our own.

The drafts which true genius draws upon posterity, although they may not always be honored so soon as they are due, are sure to be paid with compound interest in the end.

That writer does the most who gives his reader the most knowledge and takes from him the least time.

The greatest friend of truth is Time, her greatest enemy is Prejudice, and her constant companion is Humility.

If you would be known, and not know, vegetate in a village; if you would know, and not be known, live in a city.

In religion as in politics it so happens that we have less charity for those who believe half our creed, than for those who deny the whole of it.

Silence is foolish if we are wise, but wise if we are foolish.

Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship - never.

We own almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed but to those who have differed.

Avarice has ruined more souls than extravagance.