Top 220 Quotes & Sayings by Laurence Sterne
Explore popular quotes and sayings by an Irish novelist Laurence Sterne.
Last updated on November 21, 2024.
In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.
Of all duties, prayer certainly is the sweetest and most easy.
Men tire themselves in pursuit of rest.
A dwarf who brings a standard along with him to measure his own size, take my word, is a dwarf in more articles than one.
'Tis known by the name of perseverance in a good cause, and of obstinacy in a bad one.
I once asked a hermit in Italy how he could venture to live alone, in a single cottage, on the top of a mountain, a mile from any habitation? He replied, that Providence was his next-door neighbor.
Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.
Religion which lays so many restraints upon us, is a troublesome companion to those who will lay no restraints upon themselves.
Only the brave know how to forgive... a coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.
In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.
Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, - though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst, - the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!
Titles of honor are like the impressions on coins, which add no value to gold or silver, but only render brass current.
What is the life of man! Is it not to shift from side to side? From sorrow to sorrow? To button up one cause of vexation! And unbutton another!
There have been no sects in the Christian world, however absurd, which have not endeavoured to support their opinions by arguments drawn from Scripture.
The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.
But this is neither here nor there why do I mention it? Ask my pen, it governs me, I govern not it.
Only the brave know how to forgive; it is the most refined and generous pitch of virtue human nature can arrive at.
Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.
One may as well be asleep as to read for anything but to improve his mind and morals, and regulate his conduct.
I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me.
I am persuaded that every time a man smiles - but much more so when he laughs - it adds something to this fragment of life.
Sciences may be learned by rote, but wisdom not.
I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.
God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.
Nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.
For every ten jokes you acquire a hundred enemies.
So much of motion, is so much of life, and so much of joy, and to stand still, or get on but slowly, is death and the devil.
When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.
An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.
An English man does not travel to see English men.
When the heart flies out before the understanding, it saves the judgment a world of pains.
The most accomplished way of using books is to serve them as some people do lords; learn their titles and then brag of their acquaintance.
Alas! if the principles of contentment are not within us, the height of station and worldly grandeur will as soon add a cubit to a man's stature as to his happiness.
People who are always taking care of their health are like misers, who are hoarding a treasure which they have never spirit enough to enjoy.
People who overly take care of their health are like misers. They hoard up a treasure which they never enjoy.
Lessons of wisdom have the most power over us when they capture the heart through the groundwork of a story, which engages the passions.
Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.
It is a great pity but tis certain from every day's observation of man, that he may be set on fire like a candle, at either end provided there is a sufficient wick standing out.
Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.
Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.
Our passion and principals are constantly in a frenzy, but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.
For I begin with writing the first sentence, — and trusting to Almighty God for the second.
I had had an affair with the moon, in which there was neither sin nor shame.
What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life by him who interests his heart in every thing, and who, having eyes to see, what time and chance are perpetually holding out to him as he journeyeth on his way, misses nothing he can fairly lay his hands on.
Almost one half of our time is spent in telling and hearing evil of one another ... and every hour brings forth something strange and terrible to fill up our discourse and our astonishment.
Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything.
Freethinkers are generally those who never think at all.
The happiness of life may be greatly increased by small courtesies in which there is no parade, whose voice is too still to tease, and which manifest themselves by tender and affectionate looks, and little kind acts of attention.
The loneliness is the mother of wisdom.
Injuries come only from the heart.
Endless is the search of truth.
A coward never forgives.
Every thing in this world, said my father, is big with jest,--and has wit in it, and instruction too,--if we can but find it out.
I often derive a peculiar satisfaction in conversing with the ancient and modern dead, — who yet live and speak excellently in their works. My neighbors think me often alone, — and yet at such times I am in company with more than five hundred mutes — each of whom, at my pleasure, communicates his ideas to me by dumb signs — quite as intelligently as any person living can do by uttering of words.
Beauty has so many charms, one knows not how to speak against it; and when it happens that a graceful figure is the habitation of a virtuous soul, when the beauty of the face speaks out the modesty and humility of the mind, and the justness of the proportion raises our thoughts up to the heart and wisdom of the great Creator, something may be allowed it,--and something to the embellishments which set it off; and yet, when the whole apology is read, it will be found at last that beauty, like truth, never is so glorious as when it goes the plainest.
The best hearts are ever the bravest.
It is not in the power of every one to taste humor, however he may wish it; it is the gift of God! and a true feeler always brings half the entertainment along with him.
So long as a man rides his hobbyhorse peaceably and quietly along the King's highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him - pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?
Writings may be compared to wine. Sense is the strength, but wit the flavor.
We are born to trouble; and we may depend upon it, whilst we live in this world, we shall have it, though with intermissions.
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