William Hazlitt Quotes
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There is no flattery so adroit or effectual as that of implicit assent.
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Art must anchor in nature, or it is the sport of every breath of folly.
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It is only those who never think at all, or else who have accustomed themselves to blood invariably on abstract ideas, that ever feel ennui.
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A man knows his companion in a long journey and a little inn.
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The most fluent talkers or most plausible reasoners are not always the justest thinkers.
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Give me the clear blue sky over my head, and the green turf beneath my feet, a winding road before me, and a three hours' march to dinner - and then to thinking! ... I begin to feel, think, and be myself again. Instead of an awkward silence, broken by attempts at wit or dull common-places, mine is that undisturbed silence of the heart which alone is perfect eloquence.
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A felon could plead "benefit of clergy" and be saved by [reading aloud] what was aptly enough termed the "neck verse", which was very usually the Miserere mei of Psalm 51.
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Those who make their dress a principal part of themselves, will, in general, become of no more value than their dress.
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Those who object to wit are envious of it.
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The title of Ultracrepidarian critics has been given to those persons who find fault with small and insignificant details.
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I have a much greater ambition to be the best racket player than the best prose writer.
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We never do anything well till we cease to think about the manner of doing it. This is the reason why it is so difficult for any but natives to speak a language correctly or idiomatically.
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A lively blockhead in company is a public benefit. Silence or dulness by the side of folly looks like wisdom.
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Pride erects a little kingdom of its own, and acts as sovereign in it.
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The way to get on in the world is to be neither more nor less wise, neither better nor worse than your neighbours.
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The person whose doors I enter with most pleasure, and quit with most regret, never did me the smallest favor.
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There are no rules for friendship. It must be left to itself. We cannot force it any more than love.
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Our energy is in proportion to the resistance it meets.
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He who would see old Hoghton right Must view it by the pale moonlight.
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The true barbarian is he who thinks everything barbarous but his own tastes and prejudices.
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Genius, like humanity, rusts for want of use.
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The temple of fame stands upon the grave: the flame that burns upon its altars is kindled from the ashes of great men.
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One shining quality lends a lustre to another, or hides some glaring defect.
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To expect an author to talk as he writes is ridiculous; or even if he did you would find fault with him as a pedant.