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Actors are the only honest hypocrites. We do not die wholly at our deaths: we have moldered away gradually long before. Faculty after faculty, interest after interest, attachment after attachment disappear: we are torn from ourselves while living. Grace is the absence of everything that indicates pain or difficulty, hesitation or incongruity. We may be willing to tell a story twice, never to hear it more than once. There is nothing good to be had in the country, or, if there be, they will not let you have it. Wit is the salt of conversation, not the food. The difference between the vanity of a Frenchman and an Englishman seems to be this: The one thinks everything right that is French, the other thinks everything wrong that is not English. Though familiarity may not breed contempt, it takes off the edge of admiration. Man is a make-believe animal - he is never so truly himself as when he is acting a part. Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck by the difference between what things are and what they might have been. We are not hypocrites in our sleep. Calumny requires no proof. The throwing out of malicious imputations against any character leaves a stain which no after-refutation can wipe out. To create an unfavourable impression, it is not necessary that certain things should be true, but that they have been said. All that men really understand is confined to a very small compass; to their daily affairs and experience; to what they have an opportunity to know; and motives to study or practise. The rest is affectation and imposture. Indolence is a delightful but distressing state. We must be doing something to be happy. To get others to come into our ways of thinking, we must go over to theirs; and it is necessary to follow, in order to lead. Those who are fond of setting things to rights have no great objection to setting them wrong. Landscape painting is the obvious resource of misanthropy. Prejudice is the child of ignorance. Without the aid of prejudice and custom, I should not be able to find my way across the room. The truly proud man is satisfied with his own good opinion, and does not seek to make converts to it. It is essential to the triumph of reform that it shall never succeed. If we wish to know the force of human genius, we should read Shakespeare. If we wish to see the insignificance of human learning, we may study his commentators. Learning is the knowledge of that which none but the learned know. The most silent people are generally those who think most highly of themselves. If a person has no delicacy, he has you in his power. Horus non numero nisi serenas (I count only the sunny hours). One truth discovered, one pang of regret at not being able to express it, is better than all the fluency and flippancy in the world. We must be doing something to be happy. Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they might have been. Anyone is to be pitied who has just sense enough to perceive his deficiencies. Envy, among other ingredients, has a mixture of the love of justice in it. We are more angry at undeserved than at deserved good fortune. We are cold to others only when we are dull in ourselves. It is well there is no one without fault; for he would not have a friend in the world. He would seem to belong to a different species. We are fonder of visiting our friends in health than in sickness. We judge less favorably of their characters when any misfortune happens to them; and a lucky hit, either in business or reputation, improves even their personal appearance in our eyes. To be capable of steady friendship or lasting love are the two greatest proofs, not only of goodness of heart, but of strength of mind. We often choose a friend as we do a mistress, for no particular excellence in themselves, but merely from some circumstance that flatters our self-love. True friendship is self-love at second hand. Faith is necessary to victory. Let a man's talents or virtues be what they may, he will only feel satisfaction as he is satisfied in himself. Let a man's talents or virtues be what they may, he will only feel satisfaction in his society as he is satisfied in himself. Those people who are uncomfortable in themselves are disagreeable to others. As is our confidence, so is our capacity. Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought. Without the aid of prejudice and custom, I should not be able to find my way across the room. The best part of our lives we pass in counting on what is to come. As is our confidence, so is our capacity. The more we do, the more we can do; the more busy we are, the more leisure we have. A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means. Zeal will do more than knowledge. The same reason makes a man a religious enthusiast that makes a man an enthusiast in any other way ... an uncomfortable mind in an uncomfortable body. None are completely wretched but those who are without hope, and few are reduced so low as that. Reason, with most people, means their own opinions. The soul of dispatch is decision. We had as lief not be, as not be ourselves. Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are, and what they might have been. A life of action and danger moderates the dread of death. It not only gives us fortitude to bear pain, but teaches us at every step the precarious tenure on which we hold our present being. Our energy is in proportion to the resistance it meets. We attempt nothing great but from a sense of the difficulties we have to encounter; we persevere in nothing great but from a pride in overcoming them. A strong passion for any object will ensure success, for the desire of the end will point out the means. We attempt nothing great but from a sense of the difficulties we have to encounter; we persevere in nothing great but from a pride in overcoming them. Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it. The same reason makes a man a religious enthusiast that makes a man an enthusiast in any other way: an uncomfortable mind in an uncomfortable body. The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves. None but those who are happy in themselves can make others so. Wit is the salt of conversation, not the food. Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it. Silence is one great art of conversation. Though familiarity may not breed contempt, it takes off the edge of admiration. The more we do, the more we can do; the more busy we are, the more leisure we have. The way to procure insults is to submit to them. A man meets with no more respect than he exacts. Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are, and what they ought to be. Those only deserve a monument who do not need one. Prejudice is the child of ignorance. The public have neither shame nor gratitude. Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought. Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts. Wit is the salt of conversation, not the food. |