Men first make up their minds (and the smaller the mind the sooner made up), and then seek for the reasons; and if they chance to stumble upon a good reason, of course they do not reject it. But though… — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
The attendant on William Rufus, who discharged at a deer an arrow, which glanced against a tree and killed the king, was no murderer, because he had no such design. And, on the other hand, a man who should lie… — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are… — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
Of Rhetoric various definitions have been given by different writers; who, however, seem not so much to have disagreed in their conceptions of the… — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
The power of duly appreciating little things belongs to a great mind... — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
Falsehood, like the dry-rot, flourishes the more in proportion as air and light are excluded. — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
Of all hostile feelings, envy is perhaps the hardest to be subdued, because hardly any one owns it even to himself, but looks out… — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
Geologists complain that when they want specimens of the common rocks of a country, they receive curious spars; just so, historians give us the… — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
Reason can no more influence the will, and operate as a motive, than the eyes which show a man his road can enable him… — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
Eloquence is relative. One can no more pronounce on the eloquence of any composition than the wholesomeness of a medicine, without knowing for whom… — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
Falsehood, like poison, will generally be rejected when administered alone; but when blended with wholesome ingredients may be swallowed unperceived. — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
Though not always called upon to condemn ourselves, it is always safe to suspect ourselves. — Richard Whately Copy Share Image
