Josh Billings
Josh Billings
Josh Billings was the pen name of 19th-century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw. He was a famous humor writer and lecturer in the United States, perhaps second only to Mark Twain, during the latter half of the 19th century...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth21 April 1818
CityLanesborough, MA
CountryUnited States of America
wise men want
It is true that wealth won't make a man virtuous, but I notice there ain't anybody who wants to be poor just for the purpose of being good.
blow firsts hornets
A slander is like a hornet; if you cannot kill it dead at the first blow, better not to strike at it.
silence world golden
Silence is said to be golden, but the best fools the world has ever produced had nothing to say on the subject
made bigots bigotry
Wisdom has never made a bigot, but learning has....
ignorance damage doe
It's not ignorance does so much damage; it's knowin' so derned much that ain't so.
letting-go want tails
Don't take the bull by the horns, take him by the tail; then you can let go when you want to.
law satire
Satire that is seasonable and just is often more effectual than law or gospel.
biographies form
Biography is the best form of history.
wise men thinking
What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul I suppose this depends somewhat upon the size of the soul. I think there are cases where the trade would do.
would-be rubbish titles
Titles are valuable; they make us acquainted with many persons who otherwise would be lost among the rubbish.
bird together bills
And now the lads and lasses, following the example of the birds, bill and coo together.
truth truth-is
Truth is the edict of God.
poverty kind pity
Poverty is one of them kind of misfortunes that we all of us dread but none of us pity.
travel people should
People travel to learn; most of them before they start should learn to travel.