William Hazlitt Quotes
-
As is our confidence, so is our capacity.
-
Tears may be considered as the natural and involuntary resource of the mind overcome by some sudden and violent emotion, before ithas had time to reconcile its feelings to the change in circumstances: while laughter may be defined to be the same sort of convulsive and involuntary movement, occasioned by mere sur prise or contrast (in the absence of any more serious emotion), before it has time to reconcile its belief to contradictory appearances.
-
Grace has been defined as the outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul.
-
By conversing with the mighty dead, we imbibe sentiment with knowledge. We become strongly attached to those who can no longer either hurt or serve us, except through the influence which they exert over the mind. We feel the presence of that power which gives immortality to human thoughts and actions, and catch the flame of enthusiasm from all nations and ages.
-
Whatever interests is interesting.
-
Happy are they who live in the dream of their own existence, and see all things in the light of their own minds; who walk by faith and hope; to whom the guiding star of their youth still shines from afar, and into whom the spirit of the world has not entered! They have not been "hurt by the archers", nor has the iron entered their souls. The world has no hand on them.
-
The only vice that cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.
-
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 multitude who require to be led, still hate their leaders.
-
Grace in women has more effect than beauty.
-
A hypocrite despises those whom he deceives, but has no respect for himself. He would make a dupe of himself too, if he could.
-
A man who is determined never to move out of the beaten road cannot lose his way.
-
A really great man has always an idea of something greater than himself.
-
We never do anything well till we cease to think about the manner of doing it.
-
There is nothing good to be had in the country, or if there is, they will not let you have it.
-
To speak highly of one with whom we are intimate is a species of egotism. Our modesty as well as our jealousy teaches us caution on this subject.
-
We can scarcely hate anyone that we know.
-
One is always more vexed at losing a game of any sort by a single hole or ace, than if one has never had a chance of winning it.
-
Grace in women has more effect than beauty. We sometimes see a certain fine self-possession, an habitual voluptuousness of character, which reposes on its own sensations and derives pleasure from all around it, that is more irresistible than any other attraction. There is an air of languid enjoyment in such persons, "in their eyes, in their arms, and their hands, and their face," which robs us of ourselves, and draws us by a secret sympathy towards them.
-
He who comes up to his own idea of greatness must always have had a very low standard of it in his mind.
-
We are not satisfied to be right, unless we can prove others to be quite wrong.
-
A King (as such) is not a great man. He has great power, but it is not his own.
-
True friendship is self-love at second-hand.
-
The perfect joys of heaven do not satisfy the cravings of nature.