William Shenstone
William Shenstone
William Shenstonewas an English poet and one of the earliest practitioners of landscape gardening through the development of his estate, The Leasowes...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth18 November 1714
essence bears virtue
Virtues, like essences, lose their fragrance when exposed. They are sensitive plants, which will not bear too familiar approaches.
imagination perfection tree
The works of a person that begin immediately to decay, while those of him who plants begin directly to improve. In this, planting promises a more lasting pleasure than building; which, were it to remain in equal perfection, would at best begin to moulder and want repairs in imagination. Now trees have a circumstance that suits our taste, and that is annual variety.
compliment indirect deference
Deference is the most complicate, the most indirect, and the most elegant of all compliments.
envy fear jealousy
Jealousy is the fear or apprehension of superiority: envy our uneasiness under it
envious fame sloth towers views
Sloth views the towers of Fame with envious eyes, Desirous still, still impotent to rise.
wine understanding church
Reserve is no more essentially connected with understanding than a church organ with devotion, or wine with good-nature.
liars lying ends
A liar begins with making falsehood appear like truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood.
good-man use coins
Learning, like money, may be of so base a coin as to be utterly void of use; or, if sterling, may require good management to make it serve the purposes of sense or happiness.
wine power white
The weak and insipid white wine makes at length excellent vinegar.
essence virtue fragrance
Virtues, like essences, lose their fragrance when exposed.
prudent modesty be-careful
Let us be careful to distinguish modesty, which is ever amiable, from reserve, which is only prudent.
enemy may littles
A rich dress adds but little to the beauty of a person. It may possibly create a deference, but that is rather an enemy to love.
taste good-nature connected
Taste and good-nature are universally connected.
thankfulness thanks
Thanks, oftenest obtrusive.