Quotes By Joseph Addison

The stars shall fade away, the sun himself Grow dim with age, and nature sink in years, But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth, Unhurt amidst the wars of elements, The wrecks of matter, and the crush of worlds.

Mysterious love, uncertain treasure, hast thou more of pain or pleasure! Endless torments dwell about thee: Yet who would live, and live without thee!

Those Marriages generally abound most with Love and Constancy, that are preceded by a long Courtship.

The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.

We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.

Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.

Their is no defense against criticism except obscurity.

A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.

There is nothing more requisite in business than despatch.

The utmost extent of man's knowledge, is to know that he knows nothing.

Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind, which are delivered down from generation to generation as presents to the posterity of those who are yet unborn.

Nothing is more gratifying to the mind of man than power or dominion.

I have somewhere met with the epitaph on a charitable man which has pleased me very much. I cannot recollect the words, but here is the sense of it: "What I spent I lost; what I possessed is left to others; what I gave away remains with me."

The chief ingredients in the composition of those qualities that gain esteem and praise, are good nature, truth, good sense, and good breeding.

There is not a more unhappy being than a superannuated idol.

A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of.

Mere bashfulness without merit is awkwardness.

Everything that is new or uncommon raises a pleasure in the imagination, because it fills the soul with an agreeable surprise, gratifies its curiosity, and gives it an idea of which it was not before possessed.

A man should always consider how much he has more than he wants.

With regard to donations always expect the most from prudent people, who keep their own accounts.

It is folly for an eminent man to think of escaping censure, and a weakness to be affected with it. All the illustrious persons of antiquity, and indeed of every age in the world, have passed through this fiery persecution.

Justice is an unassailable fortress, built on the brow of a mountain which cannot be overthrown by the violence of torrents, nor demolished by the force of armies.

A true critic ought to dwell upon excellencies rather than imperfections, to discover the concealed beauties of a writer, and communicate to the world such things as are worth their observation.

Mutability of temper and inconsistency with ourselves is the greatest weakness of human nature.