“...the pleasures of the world are chiefly folly, and the business of it mostly knavery, and both nothing better than vanity; the men of pleasure tearing one another to pieces from the emulation of spending money, and the men of business from envy in getting it.” HumanityPleasureMoneyBusinessEnvyVanityWorldly Book:Joseph Andrews Source: Joseph Andrews
“Nobody scarce doth any good, yet they all agree in praising those who do. Indeed, it is strange that all men should consent in commending goodness, and no man endeavour to deserve that commendation; whilst, on the contrary, all rail at wickedness, and all are as eager to be what they abuse.” HumanityHuman NatureGoodnessAmbitionGoodHypocrisyWickednessDouble StandardsHuman And Society Book:Joseph Andrews Source: Joseph Andrews
“Philosophers are composed of flesh and blood as well as other human creatures; and however sublimated and refined the theory of these may be, a little practical frailty is as incident to them as to other mortals. It is, indeed, in theory only, and not in practice, as we have before hinted, that consists the difference: for though such great beings think much better and more wisely, they always act exactly like other men. They know very well how to subdue all appetites and passions, and to despise both pain and pleasure; and this knowledge affords much delightful contemplation, and is easily acquired; but the practice would be vexatious and troublesome; and, therefore, the same wisdom which teaches them to know this, teaches them to avoid carrying it into execution.” PhilosophyLearningLiving Book:The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Source: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
“Fashion is the science of appearance, and it inspires one with the desire to seem rather than to be.” Self Author:Henry Fielding
“Good heaven, how is it possible for a man to maintain a constant lie in his appearance abroad and in company and content himself with showing disagreeable truth only at home?” Men Book:The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling Source: The History of Tom Jones: a Foundling
“Why, then,' answered the squire, 'I am very sorry you have given him so much learning; for, if he cannot get his living by that, it will rather spoil him for anything else; and your other son, who can hardly write his name, will do more at ploughing and sowing, and is in a better condition, than he.' And indeed so it proved; for the poor lad, not finding friends to maintain him in his learning, as he had expected, and being unwilling to work, fell to drinking, though he was a very sober lad before; and in a short time, partly with grief, and partly with good liquor, fell into a consumption, and died.” EducationLearningAddictionCareerProspects Book:Joseph Andrews Source: Joseph Andrews
“I am content; that is a blessing greater than riches; and he to whom that is given need ask no more.” Inner PeaceContentment Author:Henry Fielding
“He then bespattered the youth with abundance of that language which passes between country gentleman who embrace opposite sides of the question; with frequent applications to him to salute that part which is generally introduced into all controversies that arise among the lower orders of the English gentry at horse-races, cock-matches, and other public places. Allusions to this part are likewise often made for the sake of jest. And here, I believe, the wit is generally misunderstood. In reality, it lies in desiring another to kiss you a-- for having just before threatened ti kick his; for I have observed very accurately, that no one ever desires you to kick that which belongs to himself, nor offers to kiss this part in another. It may likewise seem surprizing that in the many thousand kind invitations of this sort, which every one who hath conversed with country gentlemen must have heard, no one, I believe, hath ever seen a single instance where the desire hath been complied with; - a great instance of their want of politeness; for in town nothing can be more common than for the finest gentlemen to perform this ceremony every day to their superiors, without having that favour once requested of them.” HumorMannersAss KissingAss Kicking Book:The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Source: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
“Предписывать другим правила счастья всегда казалось мне нелепостью, братец, а настаивать на их выполнении - тиранством. Заблуждение это всеобщее, я знаю, но оно все-таки заблуждение. И если оно нелепо вообще, то нелепее всего в отношении брака, в котором счастье покоится всецело на взаимной любви супругов. Поэтому я всегда считал, что родители поступают неразумно, желая выбирать за детей: ведь заставить полюбить - затея безнадежная; больше того - любовь до такой степени ненавидит принуждение, что для нее в силу какой-то несчастной, во неисцелимой извращенности нашей природы, невыносимы даже уговоры. Однако я согласен, что, хотя родители поступают неумно, пытаясь навязывать свою волю, с ними в таких случаях все же следует советоваться и, пожалуй, даже необходимо признать за ними право запрета.” LoveChildrenParents Book:The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Source: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
“To retrieve the ill consequences of a foolish conduct, and by struggling manfully with distress to subdue it, is one of the noblest efforts of wisdom and virtue. Whoever, therefore, calls such a man fortunate, is guilty of no less impropriety in speech than he would be who should call the statuary or the poet fortunate who carved a Venus or who writ an Iliad.” FortuneOvercoming AdversityOvercoming QuotesMisfortuneFortune QuotesMisfortune QuotesFortune Favors The BoldFortune Favors The Privileged Author:Henry Fielding
“So inconsiderable an object is misery to light minds when it is at any distance.” MiseryMisery Quotes Book:Amelia Source: Amelia
“Adams dealt him so sound a Compliment over his Face with his Fist, that the Blood immediately gushed out of his Nose in a Stream. The Host being unwilling to be outdone in Courtesy, especially by a Person of Adams's Figure, returned the Favour with so much Gratitude, that the Parson's Nostrils likewise began to look a little redder than usual.” HumorComedyHumourQuaintClassical Mythology Book:Joseph Andrews Source: Joseph Andrews
“An author ought to consider himself, not as a gentleman who gives a private or eleemosynary treat, but rather as one who keeps a public ordinary, at which all persons are welcome for their money.” Writing Book:The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Source: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
“For I hope my Friends will pardon me, when I declare, I know none of them without a Fault; and I should be sorry if I could imagine, I had any Friend who could not see mine. Forgiveness, of this Kind, we give and demand in Turn.” FriendshipForgiveness Book:The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling Source: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling