Will Christian
Will Christian
yield mistress favors
Fortune, like a coy mistress, loves to yield her favors, though she makes us wrest them from her.
anxiety world other-half
The extent of poverty in the world is much exaggerated. Our sensitiveness makes half our poverty; our fears--anxieties for ills that never happen--a greater part of the other half.
ideas slavery
Adhesion to one idea is monomania; to few, slavery.
brother long easy
There is a German proverb which says that Take-it-Easy and Live-Long are brothers.
opinion misanthropy evidence
The opinions of the misanthropical rest upon this very partial basis, that they adopt the bad faith of a few as evidence of the worthlessness of all.
moon clouds merit
Merit is never so conspicuous as when coupled with an obscure origin, just as the moon never appears so lustrous as when it emerges from a cloud.
choices battle half
The selection of a subject is to the author what choice of position is to the general,--once skilfully determined, the battle is already half won. Of a few writers it may be said that they are popular in despite of their subjects--but of a great many more it may be observed that they are popular because of them.
ideas progress endless
Intellectually, as politically, the direction of all true progress is towards greater freedom, and along an endless succession of ideas.
feelings religion matter
Genuine religion is matter of feeling rather than matter of opinion.
oysters contentment may
Contentment is not happiness. An oyster may be contented. Happiness is compounded of richer elements.
ambition heart empires
Neither love nor ambition, as it has often been shown, can brook a division of its empire in the heart.
heart riches pockets
The heart contracts as the pocket expands.
heart riches devotion
An eager pursuit of fortune is inconsistent with a severe devotion to truth. The heart must grow tranquil before the thought can become searching.
states felicity stagnation
Repose without stagnation is the state most favorable to happiness. "The great felicity of life," says Seneca, "is to be without perturbations.