Joseph Addison Quotes
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Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.
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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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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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There is nothing that makes its way more directly into the soul than beauty.
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Mirth is like a flash of lightning, that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment; cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.
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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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A woman seldom asks advice before she has bought her wedding clothes.
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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.
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Friendships, in general, are suddenly contracted; and therefore it is no wonder they are easily dissolved.
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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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The utmost extent of man's knowledge, is to know that he knows nothing.
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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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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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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.
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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 fear of death often proves mortal, and sets people on methods to save their Lives, which infallibly destroy them.
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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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There is not a more unhappy being than a superannuated idol.
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Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.
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A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.
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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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The union of the Word and the Mind produces that mystery which is called Life... Learn deeply of the Mind and its mystery, for therein lies the secret of immortality.
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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.