Josh Billings Quotes

United States, Writer
April 21, 1818 – October, 14, 1885.

Josh Billings was the pen name of 19th-century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw (April 21, 1818 – October 14, 1885). He was a famous humor writer and lecturer in the United States, perhaps second only to Mark Twain, during the latter half of the 19th century.

Also known as Lecturer

Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough.

Josh Billings
- Saying
- Troubles
- Yes
Love looks through a telescope; envy, through a microscope.

Josh Billings
- Love
- Envy
- Microscope

Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there.

Josh Billings
- Get
- Stick
- Stamp
Most people when they come to you for advice, come to have their own opinions strengthened, not corrected.

Josh Billings
- Opinion
- Advice
- Corrected
Liberty, like chastity, once lost, can never be regained in its original purity.

Josh Billings
- Lost
- Liberty
- Chastity
There are two kinds of fools: those who can't change their opinions and those who won't.

Josh Billings
- Change
- Opinions
- Fools
Health is like money, we never have a true idea of its value until we lose it.

Josh Billings
- Money
- True
- Health
Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.

Josh Billings
- Life
- Playing
- Hold

True wisdom is plenty of experience, observation, and reflection. False wisdom is plenty of ignorance, arrogance, and impudence.

Josh Billings
- True
- Wisdom
- False
Ignorance ain't not knowin' stuff; ignorance is knowin' stuff that AIN'T TRUE.

Josh Billings
- True
- Ignorance
- Knowing
One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness.

Josh Billings
Laughter is the fireworks of the soul.

Josh Billings
- Soul
- Laughter
- Fireworks