Those graces which from their presumed facility encourage all to attempt an imitation of them, are usually the most inimitable. — Charles Caleb Colton Facility Copy Share Image
Commerce flourishes by circumstances, precarious, transitory, contingent, almost as the winds and waves that bring it to our shores. — Charles Caleb Colton Business Copy Share Image
Time, the cradle of hope, but the grave of ambition, is the stern corrector of fools, but the salutary counselor of the… — Charles Caleb Colton Ambition Copy Share Image
Worldly wisdom dictates to her disciples the propriety of dressing somewhat beyond their means, but of living somewhat within them. — Charles Caleb Colton Disciple Copy Share Image
The Grecian’s maxim would indeed be a sweeping clause in Literature; it would reduce many a giant to a pygmy; many a… — Charles Caleb Colton Clauses Copy Share Image
When certain persons abuse us, let us ask ourselves what description of characters it is that they admire; we shall often find… — Charles Caleb Colton Abuse Copy Share Image
Sensibility would be a good portress if she had but one hand; with her right she opens the door to pleasure, but… — Charles Caleb Colton Doors Copy Share Image
The excess of our youth are checks written against our age and they are payable with interest thirty years later. — Charles Caleb Colton Age Copy Share Image
We must suit the flattery to the mind and taste of the recipient. We do not put essences into hogsheads, nor porter… — Charles Caleb Colton Compliment Copy Share Image
It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler dig the gold from the mine of… — Charles Caleb Colton Books Copy Share Image
Philosophers have widely differed as to the seat of the soul, and St. Paul has told us that out of the heart… — Charles Caleb Colton Brain Copy Share Image
Our incomes should be like our shoes, if too small, they will gall and pinch us, but if too large, they will… — Charles Caleb Colton Causes Copy Share Image
Those who visit foreign nations, but associate only with their own country-men, change their climate, but not their customs. They see new… — Charles Caleb Colton Change Copy Share Image
Lord Bacon has compared those who move in higher spheres to those heavenly bodies in the firmament, which have much admiration, but… — Charles Caleb Colton Admiration Copy Share Image
When I meet with any persons who write obscurely or converse confusedly, I am apt to suspect two things; first, that such… — Charles Caleb Colton Converses Copy Share Image
Were the life of man prolonged, he would become such a proficient in villainy, that it would become necessary again to drown… — Charles Caleb Colton Alarms Copy Share Image
When you have nothing to say, say nothing; a weak defense strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad… — Charles Caleb Colton Defense Copy Share Image
We must be careful how we flatter fools too little, or wise men too much, for the flatterer must act the very… — Charles Caleb Colton Be careful Copy Share Image
Butler compared the tongues of these eternal talkers to race-horses, which go the faster the less weight they carry. — Charles Caleb Colton Butlers Copy Share Image
Happiness is that single and glorious thing which is the very light and sun of the whole animated universe; and where she… — Charles Caleb Colton Animated Copy Share Image
Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness when bequeathed by those who, even alive, would part with nothing. — Charles Caleb Colton Alive Copy Share Image
A thorough-paced antiquary not only remembers what all other people have thought proper to forget, but he also forgets what all other… — Charles Caleb Colton Forget Copy Share Image
It is a mistake, that a lust for power is the mark of a great mind; for even the weakest have been… — Charles Caleb Colton Captivated Copy Share Image
Afflictions sent by providence melt the constancy of the noble minded, but confirm the obduracy of the vile, as the same furnace… — Charles Caleb Colton Affliction Copy Share Image
The science of legislation is like that of medicine in one respect: that it is far more easy to point out what… — Charles Caleb Colton Easy Copy Share Image
There were moments of despondency when Shakespeare thought himself no poet, and Raphael no painter; when the greatest wits have doubted the… — Charles Caleb Colton Despondency Copy Share Image
We devote the activity of our youth to revelry and the decrepitude of our old age to repentance: and we finish the… — Charles Caleb Colton Activity Copy Share Image
A beautiful woman, if poor, should use double circumspection; for her beauty will tempt others, her poverty herself. — Charles Caleb Colton Beautiful 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 Advice 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 Compound interest Copy Share Image
If we steal thoughts from the moderns, it will be cried down as plagiarism; if from the ancients, it will be cried… — Charles Caleb Colton Cried Copy Share Image
Atheism is a system which can communicate neither warmth nor illumination, except from those fagots which your mistaken zeal has lighted up… — Charles Caleb Colton Atheism Copy Share Image
In religion as in politics it so happens that we have less charity for those who believe half our creed, than for… — Charles Caleb Colton Believe Copy Share Image
Of all the marvelous works of God, perhaps the one angels view with the most supreme astonishment, is a proud man. — Charles Caleb Colton Angel Copy Share Image
He that thinks he is the happiest man, really is so. But he that thinks he is the wisest, is generally the… — Charles Caleb Colton Fool Copy Share Image
There are three modes of bearing the ills of life; by indifference, which is the most common; by philosophy, which is the… — Charles Caleb Colton Indifference Copy Share Image
Repartee is perfect when it effects its purpose with a double edge. It is the highest order of wit, as it indicates… — Charles Caleb Colton Conversation Copy Share Image
The most ridiculous of all animals is a proud priest; he cannot use his own tools without cutting his own fingers. — Charles Caleb Colton Animal Copy Share Image
Faults of the head are punished in this world, those of the heart in another; but as most of our vices are… — Charles Caleb Colton Compounds Copy Share Image
The three great apostles of practical atheism, that make converts without persecuting, and retain them without preaching, are wealth, health and power. — Charles Caleb Colton Atheism Copy Share Image
