Quotes By Laurence Sterne

When the heart flies out before the understanding, it saves the judgment a world of pains.

Sciences may be learned by rote, but wisdom not.

Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.

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.

Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.

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

Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy.

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.

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.

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

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.

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!

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

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.

An English man does not travel to see English men.

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.

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.

I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me.

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

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

Men tire themselves in pursuit of rest.

Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.

It is a great pity but tis certain from every day's observation of man, that he may be set on fire like a candle, at either end provided there is a sufficient wick standing out.

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.

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