Subtract from many modern poets all that may be found in Shakespeare, and trash will remain. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Wit may do very well for a mistress, but [I] should prefer reason for a wife. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
A wise man may be duped as well as a fool; but the fool publishes the triumph of the deceiver. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
A house may draw visitors, but it is the possessor alone that can detain them. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
We may anticipate bliss, but who ever drank of that enchanted cup unalloved? — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Ignorance is a blank sheet, on which we may write; but error is a scribbled one, on which we must first erase. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
The drafts which true genius draws upon posterity, although they may not always be honored so soon as they are due, are… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
It is much easier to ruin a man of principle than a man of none, for he may be ruined through his… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Many a man may thank his talent for his rank, but no man has ever been able to return the compliment by… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Strong as our passions are, they may be starved into submission, and conquered without being killed. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
A man's profundity may keep him from opening on a first interview, and his caution on a second; but I should suspect… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Adroit observers will find that some who affect to dislike flattery, may yet be flattered indirectly, by a well seasoned abuse and… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
The acquirements of science may be termed the armour of the mind; but that armour would be worse than useless, that cost… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
When in reading we meet with any maxim that may be of use, we should take it for our own, and make… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Many ... begin to make converts from motives of charity, but continue to do so from motives of pride. ... Charity is… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Of present fame think little, and of future less; the praises that we receive after we are buried, like the flowers that… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
In cases of doubtful morality, it is usual to say is there any harm in doing this? This question may sometimes be… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
There is an elasticity in the human mind, capable of bearing much, but which will not show itself, until a certain weight… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
To diminish envy, let us consider not what others possess, but what they enjoy; mere riches may be the gift of lucky… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Happiness is much more equally divided than some of us imagine. One man shall possess most of the materials, but little of… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
To be continually subject to the breath of slander, will tarnish the purest virtue, as a constant exposure to the atmosphere will… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Men spend their lives in anticipations,—in determining to be vastly happy at some period when they have time. But the present time… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
The truly great consider, first, how they may gain the approbation of God, and, secondly, that of their own conscience. Having done… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
As the grand discordant harmony of the celestial bodies may be explained by the simple principles of gravity and impulse, so also… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
There is no quality of the mind, or of the body, that so instantaneously and irresistibly captivates, as wit. An elegant writer… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Pride differs in many things from vanity, and by gradations that never blend, although they may be somewhat indistinguishable. Pride may perhaps… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Some well-meaning Christians tremble for their salvation, because they have never gone through that valley of tears and of sorrow, which they… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
A town, before it can be plundered and, deserted, must first be taken; and in this particular Venus has borrowed a law… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
It is not every man that can afford to wear a shabby coat; and worldly wisdom dictates to her disciples the propriety… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
The avarice of the miser may be termed the grand sepulchral of all his other passions, as they successively decay. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Novels may teach us as wholesome a moral as the pulpit. There are "sermons in stones," in healthy books, and "good in… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Pain may be said to follow pleasure as its shadow; but the misfortune is that in this particular case, the substance belongs… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Whenever we find ourselves more inclined to persecute than to persuade, we may then be certain that our zeal has more of… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock of wine; but if we defer tasting… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Total freedom from error is what none of us will allow to our neighbors; however we may be inclined to flirt a… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
From the preponderance of talent, we may always infer the soundness and vigour of the commonwealth; but from the preponderance of riches,… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Villainy that is vigilant will be an overmatch for virtue, if she slumber at her post. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown or to… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of literature, or… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
Mental pleasures never cloy; unlike those of the body, they are increased by reputation, approved by reflection, and strengthened by enjoyment. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
Ignorance lies at the bottom of all human knowledge, and the deeper we penetrate, the nearer we arrive unto it. — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
Heroism, self-denial, and magnanimity, in all instances where they do not spring from a principle of religion, are but splendid altars on which we… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two advantages over… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
We owe almost all our knowledge not to those who have agreed, but to those who have differed — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
Metaphysicians have been learning their lessons for the last four thousand years, and it is high time that they should now begin to teach… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
Faith and works are necessary to our spiritual life as Christians, as soul and body are to our natural life as men; for faith… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
When all moves equally (says Pascal), nothing seems to move as in a vessel under sail; and when all run by common consent into… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share
![“Wit may do very well for a mistress, but [I] should prefer reason for a wife.” quote by Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c91/charles-caleb-colton-270_marriage_wit-may-do-very-well-for-a-mistress-but_1870797.png)
