Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addisonwas an English essayist, poet, playwright, and politician. He was the eldest son of The Reverend Lancelot Addison. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend, Richard Steele, with whom he founded The Spectator magazine...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth1 May 1672
reading writing men
A man who has any relish for fine writing either discovers new beauties or receives stronger impressions from the masterly strokes of a great author every time he peruses him; besides that he naturally wears himself into the same manner of speaking and thinking.
circles religion enough
Religion contracts the circle of our pleasures, but leaves it wide enough for her votaries to expatiate in.
pride men arrogance
Riches are apt to betray a man into arrogance.
heart pride men
Riches expose a man to pride and luxury, and a foolish elation of heart.
eye impossible rivalry
It is impossible for authors to discover beauties in one another's works; they have eyes only for spots and blemishes.
religious men honor
The religious man fears, the man of honor scorns, to do an ill action.
ambition men shining
It is observed by Cicero, that men of the greatest and most shining parts are most actuated by ambition.
ambition men circles
There is a kind of grandeur and respect which the meanest and most insignificant part of mankind endeavor to procure in the little circle of their friends and acquaintance. The poorest mechanic, nay, the man who lives upon common alms, gets him his set of admirers, and delights in that superiority which he enjoys over those who are in some respects beneath him. This ambition, which is natural to the soul of man, might, methinks, receive a very happy turn; and, if it were rightly directed, contribute as much to a person's advantage, as it generally does to his uneasiness and disquiet.
stars sight heaven
By anticipation we sugar misery and enjoy happiness before they are in being. We can set the sun and stars forward, or lose sight of them by wandering into those retired parts of eternity when the heavens and earth shall be no more.
rely-upon expectations may
We are apt to rely upon future prospects, and become really expensive while we are only rich in possibility. We live up to our expectations, not to our possessions, and make a figure proportionable to what we may be, not what we are.
heart prejudice opinion
Most of our fellow-subjects are guided either by the prejudice of education or by a deference to the judgment of those who perhaps in their own hearts disapprove the opinions which they industriously spread among the multitude.
religious passion thinking
Every one knows the veneration which was paid by the Jews to a name so great, wonderful, and holy. They would not let it enter even into their religious discourses. What can we then think of those who make use of so tremendous a name, in the ordinary expression of their anger, mirth, and most impertinent passions?
wine soul littles
Wine displays every little spot of the soul in its utmost deformity.
numbers clouds witness
The great number of the Jews furnishes us with a sufficient cloud of witnesses that attest the truth of the Bible.