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
block education english-writer human sculpture
What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the human soul.
enemy happiness noise retired true
True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise
fain posterity says
We are always doing," says he, "something for Posterity, but I would fain see Posterity do something for us
arrive country empty fain filled hurry imaginary points rest several time travel wild
We travel through time as through a country filled with many wild and empty wastes, which we would fain hurry over, that we may arrive at those several little settlements or imaginary points of rest which are dispersed up and down in it
atheism atheist deny faith greater infinitely measure receive requires truths
To be an atheist requires an infinitely greater measure of faith than to receive all the great truths which atheism would deny
command deserve mortals tis
Tis not in mortals to command success, But we'll do more, Sempronius; we'll deserve it
call rank romans tis
Tis pride, rank pride, and haughtiness of soul; I think the Romans call it stoicism
abound constancy english-writer generally love marriages
Those Marriages generally abound most with Love and Constancy that are preceded by a long Courtship.
growing next step
We are growing serious, and let me tell you, that's the next step to being dull.
dull growing next step
We are growing serious, and let me tell you, that's the very next step to being dull
eternity joyful short song thy utter
Through all eternity to thee, a joyful song I'll raise; for oh! Eternity's too short to utter all thy praise.
force gives great ideas lively sight themselves
Words, when well chosen, have so great a force in them that a description often gives us more lively ideas than the sight of things themselves
life happiness men
The important question is not, what will yield to man a few scattered pleasures, but what will render his life happy on the whole amount.
literature honour stations
The post of honour is a private station.