Owen Feltham
Owen Feltham
Owen Felthamwas an English writer, author of a book entitled Resolves, Divine, Moral, and Political, containing 146 short essays. It had great popularity in its day. Feltham was for a time in the household of the Earl of Thomond as chaplain or sec., and published, Brief Character of the Low Countries. His most cited essay is "How the Distempers of these Times should affect wise Men" which was selected for inclusion in John Gross' The Oxford Book of Essays, a...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionAuthor
greatness glasses perspective
Meditation is the soul's perspective glass.
imperfect-things perfection way
Perfection is immutable. But for things imperfect, change is the way to perfect them.
inspirational thanksgiving wise
Praise has different effects, according to the mind it meets with; it makes a wise man modest, but a fool more arrogant, turning his weak brain giddy.
made absolutes
God has made no one absolute.
might would-be injustice
If ever I should affect injustice, it would be in this, that I might do courtesies and receive none.
play vanity shadow
Shall I speak truly what I now see below? The World is all a carkass, smoak and vanity, The shadow of a shadow, a play And in one word, just Nothing.
memories men understanding
A sentence well couched takes both the sense and understanding. I love not those cart-rope speeches that are longer than the memory of man can fathom.
giving reason
Reason and right give the quickest despatch.
adversity joy may
Discontents are sometimes the better part of our life. I know not well which is the most useful; joy I may choose for pleasure, but adversities are the best for profit; and sometimes those do so far help me, as I should, without them, want much of the joy I have.
crush fall broken
Truth and fidelity are the pillars of the temple of the world; when these are broken, the fabric falls, and crushes all to pieces.
balance would-be needs
He who would be singular in his apparel had need have something superlative to balance that affectation.
time commitment anchors
Time is like a ship which never anchors; while I am on board, I had better do those things that may profit me at my landing, than practice such as shall cause my commitment when I come ashore.
vices progression
Vice is a peripatetic, always in progression.
rivers rowing virtue
Virtue dwells at the head of a river, to which we cannot get but by rowing against the stream.