I shall endeavour to enliven Morality with Wit, and to temper Wit with Morality, that my Readers may, if possible, both Ways… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
The only way therefore to try a Piece of Wit, is to translate it into a different Language: If it bears the… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
The soul, considered with its Creator, is like one of those mathematical lines that may draw nearer to another for all eternity… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
Cunning is only the mimic of discretion, and may pass upon weak men in the same manner as vivacity is often mistaken… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
Even the greatest actions of a celebrated person labor under this disadvantage, that however surprising and extraordinary they may be, they are… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
I think I may define taste to be that faculty of the soul which discerns the beauties of an author with pleasure,… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
The intelligence of affection is carried on by the eye only; good-breeding has made the tongue falsify the heart, and act a… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
Cunning has only private selfish aims, and sticks at nothing which may make them succeed. Discretion has large and extended views, and,… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
But in all despotic governments, though a particular prince may favour arts and letter, there is a natural degeneracy of mankind. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
With what astonishment and veneration may we look into our own souls, where there are such hidden stores of virtue and knowledge,… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
If we may believe our logicians, man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter. He has a heart… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
The great art in writing advertisements is the finding out of a proper method to catch the reader's eye; without which, a… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
The discreet man finds out the talents of those he converses with, and knows how to apply them to proper uses. Accordingly,… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
A man must be excessively stupid, as well as uncharitable, who believes that there is no virtue but on his own side,… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
No man writes a book without meaning something, though he may not have the faculty of writing consequentially and expressing his meaning. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
He who would pass his declining years with honor and comfort, should, when young, consider that he may one day become old,… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
The memory is perpetually looking back when we have nothing present to entertain us. It is like those repositories in animals that… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
It is indeed very possible, that the Persons we laugh at may in the main of their Characters be much wiser Men… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
The greatest parts, without discretion as observed by an elegant writer, may be fatal to their owner; as Polyphemus, deprived of his… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
Plutarch has written an essay on the benefits which a man may receive from his enemies; and among the good fruits of… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
Among the writers of antiquity there are none who instruct us more openly in the manners of their respective times in which… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
One may know a man that never conversed in the world, by his excess of good-breeding. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
It is certain that there is no other passion which does produce such contrary effects in so great a degree. But this… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
An idol may be undeified by many accidental causes. Marriage, in particular, is a kind of counter apotheosis, as a deification inverted.… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
A person may be qualified to do greater good to mankind and become more beneficial to the world, by morality without faith… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
There is nothing touches our imagination so much as a beautiful woman in a plain dress. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
Female Virtues are of a Domestick turn. The Family is the proper Province for Private Women to Shine in. If they must be showing… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
As addictions go, reading is among the cleanest, easiest to feed, happiest. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
There is no society or conversation to be kept up in the world without good-nature, or something which must bear its appearance and supply… — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
When love once pleads admission to our hearts, In spite of all the virtue we can boast, The woman that deliberates is lost. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
Many actions calculated to procure fame are not conducive to ultimate happiness. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
T is liberty crowns Britannia's Isle, And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
The moral perfections of the Deity, the more attentively, we consider, the more perfectly still shall we know them. — Joseph Addison Copy Share Image
