Book Quotes by Laurence Sterne

9 Book quotes by Laurence Sterne

Laurence Sterne’s playful spirit surfaces in these nine short musings on books. While the selection is concise, each line hints at his characteristic humor and insight, offering a quick taste of his literary wit.

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To write a book is for all the world like humming a song.

Laurence Sterne

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I am positive I have a soul; nor can all the books with which materialists have pestered the world ever convince me…

Laurence Sterne

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To write a book is for all the world like humming a song—be but in tune with yourself, madam, 'tis no matter…

Laurence Sterne

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Shall we for ever make new books, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another?

Laurence Sterne

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The mind should be accustomed to make wise reflections, and draw curious conclusions as it goes along; the habitude of which made…

Laurence Sterne

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That of all the several ways of beginning a book which are now in practice throughout the known world, I am confident…

Laurence Sterne

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Upon looking back from the end of the last chapter and surveying the texture of what has been wrote, it is necessary,…

Laurence Sterne

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In solitude the mind gains strength, and learns to lean upon herself; in the world it seeks or accepts of a few…

Laurence Sterne

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I often derive a peculiar satisfaction in conversing with the ancient and modern dead, — who yet live and speak excellently in…

Laurence Sterne

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More by Laurence Sterne

The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…

Laurence Sterne

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The world is ashamed of being virtuous.

Laurence Sterne

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Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.

Laurence Sterne

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I was acquainted once with a gallant soldier who assured me that his only measure of courage was this: upon the first fire, in…

Laurence Sterne

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A man's body and his mind, with the utmost reverence to both I speak it, are exactly like a jerkin and a jerkin's lining;…

Laurence Sterne

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When the affections so kindly break loose, Joy, is another name for Religion.

Laurence Sterne

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Sweet pliability of man's spirit, that can at once surrender itself to illusions, which cheat expectation and sorrow of their weary moments! - long…

Laurence Sterne

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Philosophy has a fine saying for everything.-For Death it has an entire set.

Laurence Sterne

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Dear sensibility! Source inexhausted of all that's precious in our joys, or costly in our sorrows! Eternal fountain of our feelings! 'tis here I…

Laurence Sterne

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The best friends in the world may differ sometimes.

Laurence Sterne

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Beauty has so many charms, one knows not how to speak against it; and when it happens that a graceful figure is the habitation…

Laurence Sterne

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The best hearts are ever the bravest.

Laurence Sterne

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Hail! the small courtesies of life, for smooth do ye make the road of it, like grace and beauty, which beget inclinations to love…

Laurence Sterne

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There are a thousand unnoticed openings, continued my father, which let penetrating eye at once into a man's soul; and I maintain it, added…

Laurence Sterne

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“Button-holes! there is something lively in the very idea of 'em - and trust me, when I get amongst 'em - you gentry with…

Laurence Sterne

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