Joseph Addison Quotes
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There is nothing that makes its way more directly into the soul than beauty.
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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.
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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.
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Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.
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The utmost extent of man's knowledge, is to know that he knows nothing.
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The important question is not, what will yield to man a few scattered pleasures, but what will render his life happy on the whole amount.
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A woman seldom asks advice before she has bought her wedding clothes.
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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.
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One should take good care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life as laughter.
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A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.
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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.
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Friendships, in general, are suddenly contracted; and therefore it is no wonder they are easily dissolved.
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Suspicion is not less an enemy to virtue than to happiness; he that is already corrupt is naturally suspicious, and he that becomes suspicious will quickly be corrupt.
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When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations.
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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.
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Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.
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There is not a more unhappy being than a superannuated idol.
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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.
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A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.
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I will indulge my sorrows, and give way to all the pangs and fury of despair.
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To be an atheist requires an indefinitely greater measure of faith than to recieve all the great truths which atheism would deny.
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I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.
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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.
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Men may change their climate, but they cannot change their nature. A man that goes out a fool cannot ride or sail himself into common sense.