Quotes from William Shenstone

Laws are generally found to be nets of such a texture, as the little creep through, the great break through, and the middle-sized are alone entangled in it.

The proper means of increasing the love we bear our native country is to reside some time in a foreign one.

Poetry and consumption are the most flattering of diseases.

Zealous men are ever displaying to you the strength of their belief, while judicious men are showing you the grounds of it.

Hope is a flatterer, but the most upright of all parasites for she frequents the poor man's hut, as well as the palace of his superior.

His knowledge of books had in some degree diminished his knowledge of the world.

The best time to frame an answer to the letters of a friend, is the moment you receive them. Then the warmth of friendship, and the intelligence received, most forcibly cooperate.

The lines of poetry, the period of prose, and even the texts of Scripture most frequently recollected and quoted, are those which are felt to be preeminently musical.

A miser grows rich by seeming poor. An extravagant man grows poor by seeming rich.

Jealousy is the fear or apprehension of superiority: envy our uneasiness under it.

Some men use no other means to acquire respect than by insisting on it; and it sometimes answers their purpose, as it does a highwayman's in regard to money.

I trimmed my lamp, consumed the midnight oil.

Learning, like money, may be of so base a coin as to be utterly void of use.

His knowledge of books had in some degree diminished his knowledge of the world.

The world may be divided into people that read, people that write, people that think, and fox-hunters.

A man has generally the good or ill qualities which he attributes to mankind.

Whoe'er has travell'd life's dull round, Where'er his stages may have been, May sigh to think he still has found The warmest welcome at an inn.

Laws are generally found to be nets of such a texture, as the little creep through, the great break through, and the middle-sized are alone entangled in it.

Second thoughts oftentimes are the very worst of all thoughts.

I am thankful that my name in obnoxious to no pun.

A fool and his words are soon parted.

The regard one shows economy, is like that we show an old aunt who is to leave us something at last.

The most reserved of men, that will not exchange two syllables together in an English coffee-house, should they meet at Ispahan, would drink sherbet and eat a mess of rice together.

In every village marked with little spire, Embowered in trees, and hardly known to fame.