William Hazlitt Quotes
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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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To die is only to be as we were before we were born; yet no one feels any remorse, or regret, or repugnance, in contemplating this last idea.
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Art must anchor in nature, or it is the sport of every breath of folly.
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There is no flattery so adroit or effectual as that of implicit assent.
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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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The amiable is the voluptuous in expression or manner. The sense of pleasure in ourselves is that which excites it in others; or, the art of pleasing is to seem pleased.
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Pride erects a little kingdom of its own, and acts as sovereign in it.
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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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Let a man's talents or virtues be what they may, he will only feel satisfaction in his society as he is satisfied in himself.
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Genius, like humanity, rusts for want of use.
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I do not think that what is called Love at first sight is so great an absurdity as it is sometimes imagined to be. We generally make up our minds beforehand to the sort of person we should like, grave or gay, black, brown, or fair; with golden tresses or raven locks; - and when we meet with a complete example of the qualities we admire, the bargain is soon struck.
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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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Just as much as we see in others we have in ourselves.
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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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...greatness sympathises with greatness, and littleness shrinks into itself.
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The most fluent talkers or most plausible reasoners are not always the justest thinkers.
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One shining quality lends a lustre to another, or hides some glaring defect.
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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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Liberty is the only true riches: of all the rest we are at once the masters and the slaves.
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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.
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There is something captivating in spirit and intrepidity, to which, we often yield as to a resistless power; nor can he reasonably expect, the confidence of others who too apparently distrusts himself.
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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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To display the greatest powers, unless they are applied to great purposes, makes nothing for the character of greatness.
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Those who object to wit are envious of it.