Quotes By Laurence Sterne

Lessons of wisdom have the most power over us when they capture the heart through the groundwork of a story, which engages the passions.

People who are always taking care of their health are like misers, who are hoarding a treasure which they have never spirit enough to enjoy.

Our passion and principals are constantly in a frenzy, but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.

A dwarf who brings a standard along with him to measure his own size, take my word, is a dwarf in more articles than one.

An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.

I am persuaded that every time a man smiles - but much more so when he laughs - it adds something to this fragment of life.

Only the brave know how to forgive... a coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.

Nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.

Titles of honor are like the impressions on coins, which add no value to gold or silver, but only render brass current.

For every ten jokes you acquire a hundred enemies.

Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.

When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.

Sciences may be learned by rote, but wisdom not.

People who overly take care of their health are like misers. They hoard up a treasure which they never enjoy.

In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.

In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.

Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.

Religion which lays so many restraints upon us, is a troublesome companion to those who will lay no restraints upon themselves.

So much of motion, is so much of life, and so much of joy, and to stand still, or get on but slowly, is death and the devil.

I once asked a hermit in Italy how he could venture to live alone, in a single cottage, on the top of a mountain, a mile from any habitation? He replied, that Providence was his next-door neighbor.

The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.

One may as well be asleep as to read for anything but to improve his mind and morals, and regulate his conduct.

I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.

Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, - though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst, - the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!

The most accomplished way of using books is to serve them as some people do lords; learn their titles and then brag of their acquaintance.

But this is neither here nor there why do I mention it? Ask my pen, it governs me, I govern not it.

There have been no sects in the Christian world, however absurd, which have not endeavoured to support their opinions by arguments drawn from Scripture.

An English man does not travel to see English men.

Alas! if the principles of contentment are not within us, the height of station and worldly grandeur will as soon add a cubit to a man's stature as to his happiness.