An Irish man fights before he reasons, a Scotchman reasons before he fights, an Englishman is not particular as to the order… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Theory is worth but little, unless it can explain its own phenomena, and it must effect this without contradicting itself; therefore, the… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
We ought not to be over-anxious to encourage innovation in cases of doubtful improvement, for an old system must ever have two… — Charles Caleb Colton Advantage Copy Share Image
A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we are never more deceived than when we… — Charles Caleb Colton Cheerfulness Copy Share Image
The soundest argument will produce no more conviction in an empty head than the most superficial declamation; as a feather and a… — Charles Caleb Colton Argument Copy Share Image
The family is the most basic unit of government. As the first community to which a person is attached and the first… — Charles Caleb Colton Authority Copy Share Image
There is more jealousy between rival wits than rival beauties, for vanity has no sex. But in both cases there must be… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
If sensuality be our only happiness we ought to envy the brutes, for instinct is a surer, shorter, safer guide to such… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
We strive as hard to hide our hearts from ourselves as from others, and always with more success; for in deciding upon… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
As the rays of the sun, notwithstanding their velocity, injure not the eye, by reason of their minuteness, so the attacks of… — Charles Caleb Colton Envy Copy Share Image
Men of strong minds and who think for themselves, should not be discouraged on finding occasionally that some of their best ideas… — Charles Caleb Colton Conquest Copy Share Image
There are some who affect a want of affectation, and flatter themselves that they are above flattery; they are proud of being… — Charles Caleb Colton Benefactors Copy Share Image
The reason why great men meet with so little pity or attachment in adversity, would seem to be this: the friends of… — Charles Caleb Colton Adversity Copy Share Image
Public charities and benevolent associations for the gratuitous relief of every species of distress, are peculiar to Christianity; no other system of… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
It has been observed that a dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant will see farther than the giant himself; and… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Self-love, in a well-regulated breast, is as the steward of the household, superintending the expenditure, and seeing that benevolence herself should be… — Charles Caleb Colton Benevolence Copy Share Image
In science, reason is the guide; in poetry, taste. The object of the one is truth, which is uniform and indivisible; the… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Religion, like its votaries, while it exists on earth, must have a body as well as a soul. A religion purely spiritual… — Charles Caleb Colton Animal Copy Share Image
None are so seldom found alone, and are so soon tired of their own company, as those coxcombs who are on the… — Charles Caleb Colton Company Copy Share Image
To admit that there is any such thing as chance, in the common acceptation of the term, would be to attempt to… — Charles Caleb Colton Chance Copy Share Image
Men of great and shining qualities do not always succeed in life, but the fault lies more often in themselves than in… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
My lowest days as a Christian have been more fulfilling and rewarding than all the days of glory in the White House. — Charles Caleb Colton Christian Copy Share Image
Great men, like comets, are eccentric in their courses, and formed to do extensive good by modes unintelligible to vulgar minds. — Charles Caleb Colton Comets Copy Share Image
He that studies only men will get the body of knowledge without the soul; and he that studies only books, the soul… — Charles Caleb Colton Body Copy Share Image
That which we acquire with the most difficulty we retain the longest; as those who have earned a fortune are usually more… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
Power, like the diamond, dazzles the beholder, and also the wearer; it dignifies meanness; it magnifies littleness; to what is contemptible, it… — Charles Caleb Colton Authority Copy Share Image
I have somewhere seen it observed that we should make the same use of a book that the bee does of a… — Charles Caleb Colton Bees Copy Share Image
The gamester, if he die a martyr to his profession, is doubly ruined. He adds his soul to every other loss, and… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
A public debt is a kind of anchor in the storm; but if the anchor be too heavy for the vessel, she… — Charles Caleb Colton Copy Share Image
There are two principles of established acceptance in morals; first, that self-interest is the mainspring of all of our actions, and secondly,… — Charles Caleb Colton Acceptance Copy Share Image
With respect to the authority of great names, it should be remembered that he alone deserves to have any weight and influence… — Charles Caleb Colton Authority Copy Share Image
Religion has treated knowledge sometimes as an enemy, sometimes as a hostage; often as a captive and more often as a child;… — Charles Caleb Colton Acquaintance Copy Share Image
Where thou perceivest knowledge, bend the ear of attention and respect; But yield not further to the teaching, than as thy mind… — Charles Caleb Colton Argument Copy Share Image
Wars are to the body politic, what drams are to the individual. There are times when they may prevent a sudden death,… — Charles Caleb Colton Body Copy Share Image
Some frauds succeed from the apparent candor, the open confidence, and the full blaze of ingenuousness that is thrown around them. The… — Charles Caleb Colton Candor Copy Share Image
No men deserve the title of infidels so little as those to whom it has been usually applied; let any of those… — Charles Caleb Colton Absurdity Copy Share Image
Love may exist without jealousy, although this is rare: but jealousy may exist without love, and this is common; for jealousy can… — Charles Caleb Colton Affection Copy Share Image
Idleness is the grand Pacific Ocean of life, and in that stagnant abyss the most salutary things produce no good, the most… — Charles Caleb Colton Abyss Copy Share Image
The cynic who twitted Aristippus by observing that the philosopher who could dine on herbs might despise the company of a king,… — Charles Caleb Colton Business Copy Share Image
Duke Chartres used to boast that no man could have less real value for character than himself, yet he would gladly give… — Charles Caleb Colton Boast Copy Share Image
