Quotes By Joseph Addison

Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it; courage which arises from a sense of duty acts; in a uniform manner.

A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.

There is not so variable a thing in nature as a lady's head-dress.

Nothing is capable of being well set to music that is not nonsense.

An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.

True happiness arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one's self, and in the next, from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions.

There is nothing which we receive with so much reluctance as advice.

I will indulge my sorrows, and give way to all the pangs and fury of despair.

The most violent appetites in all creatures are lust and hunger; the first is a perpetual call upon them to propagate their kind, the latter to preserve themselves.

Young men soon give, and soon forget, affronts; old age is slow in both.

Among all kinds of Writing, there is none in which Authors are more apt to miscarry than in Works of Humour, as there is none in which they are more ambitious to excel.

Animals, in their generation, are wiser than the sons of men; but their wisdom is confined to a few particulars, and lies in a very narrow compass.

Mirth is like a flash of lightning, that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment; cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.

To be perfectly just is an attribute of the divine nature; to be so to the utmost of our abilities, is the glory of man.

It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.

Friendships, in general, are suddenly contracted; and therefore it is no wonder they are easily dissolved.

The post of honour is a private station.

One should take good care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life as laughter.

If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.

What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul.

Jesters do often prove prophets.

To a man of pleasure every moment appears to be lost, which partakes not of the vivacity of amusement.

I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.

He who would pass his declining years with honor and comfort, should, when young, consider that he may one day become old, and remember when he is old, that he has once been young.

Better to die ten thousand deaths than wound my honor.

Man is subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another.

Music, the greatest good that mortals know and all of heaven we have hear below.

Talking with a friend is nothing else but thinking aloud.

Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.

What pity is it That we can die, but once to serve our country.