Top 86 Quotes & Sayings by Richard Steele - Page 2

I love to consider an Infidel, whether distinguished by the title of deist, atheist, or free-thinker.

The man is mechanically turned, and made for getting. . . . It was verily prettily said that we may learn the little value of fortune by the persons on whom Heaven is pleased to bestow it.

Will. Honeycomb calls these over-offended ladies the outrageously virtuous.

The praise of an ignorant man is only good-will, and you should receive his kindness as he is a good neighbor in society, and not as a good judge of your actions in point of fame and reputation.

I love to consider an Infidel, whether distinguished by the title of deist, atheist, or free-thinker, by three different lights, in his solitude, his afflictions, and his last moments.... [In these situations such people show themselves] in solitude, incapable or rapture or elevation, ... in distress, [with] a halter or a pistol the only refuge [they] can fly to, ... [and liable to conversion] at the approach of death.

A fool is in himself the object of pity, until he is flattered.

Whenever you commend, add your reasons for doing so; it is this which distinguishes the approbation of a man of sense from the flattery of sycophants and admiration of fools.

It is a certain sign of an ill heart to be inclined to defamation. They who are harmless and innocent can have no gratification that way; but it ever arises from a neglect of what is laudable in a man's self.

There are so few who can grow old with a good grace.

There is hardly that person to be found who is not more concerned for the reputation of wit and sense, than honesty and virtue.

How few there are who are furnished with abilities sufficient to recommend their actions to the admiration of the world, and distinguish themselves from the rest of mankind.

The insupportable labor of doing nothing.

A modest person seldom fails to gain the goodwill of those he converses with, because nobody envies a man who does not appear to be pleased with himself.

The survivorship of a worthy man in his son is a pleasure scarce inferior to the hopes of the continuance of his own life.

The world will never be in any manner of order or tranquility until men are firmly convinced that conscience, honor and credit are all in one interest

It is an impertinent and unreasonable fault in conversation for one man to take up all the discourse.

I was going home two hours ago, but was met by Mr. Griffith, who has kept me ever since. . . . I will come within a pint of wine.

Age in a virtuous person, of either sex, carries in it an authority which makes it preferable to all the pleasures of youth.

Such is the weakness of our nature, that when men are a little exalted in their condition they immediately conceive they have additional senses, and their capacities enlarged not only above other men, but above human comprehension itself.

Conversation never sits easier upon us than when we now and then discharge ourselves in a symphony of laughter, which may not improperly be called the chorus of conversation.

When a man is not disposed to hear music, there is not a more disagreeable sound in harmony than that of the violin.

It is the duty of a great person so to demean himself, as that whatever endowments he may have, he may appear to value himself upon no qualities but such as any man may arrive at.

Nothing is more silly than the pleasure some people take in "speaking their minds." A man of this make will say a rude thing for the mere pleasure of saying it, when an opposite behavior, full as innocent, might have preserved his friend, or made his fortune.

It is an endless and frivolous Pursuit to act by any other Rule than the Care of satisfying our own Minds in what we do

Pleasure seizes the whole man who addicts himself to it, and will not give him leisure for any good office in life which contradicts the gayety of the present hour.

Since our persons are not of our own making, when they are such as appear defective or uncomely, it is, methinks, an honest and laudable fortitude to dare to be ugly.