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Joseph Addison

Joseph Addison Quotes

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Famous Joseph Addison Quotes

“A man governs himself by the dictates of virtue and good sense, who acts without zeal or passion in points that are of no consequence; but when the whole community is shaken, and the safety of the public endangered, the appearance of a philosophical or an affected indolence must arise either from stupidity or perfidiousness.”

MenWholePassionCommunityVirtueConsequencePhilosophicalSafetyAppearanceStupidityAriseAffectedZealGood SenseIndolence
Book:The Works of [the Right Honourable] Joseph Addison: The Spectator, no. 483-600. The Guardian. The lover. The present state of the war. The late trial and cenviction of Count Tariff. The Whig-examiner. The Freeholder, no. 1-30
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“Every one knows the veneration which was paid by the Jews to a name so great, wonderful, and holy. They would not let it enter even into their religious discourses. What can we then think of those who make use of so tremendous a name, in the ordinary expression of their anger, mirth, and most impertinent passions?”

ThinkingKnowsUsePassionNamesReligiousWonderfulExpressionHolyOrdinaryPaidJewDiscourseMirthProfanityVeneration
Book:The Evidences of the Christian Religion: To which are Added, Several Discourses Against Atheism and Infidelity, and in Defence of the Christian Revelation
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“It is certain that there is no other passion which does produce such contrary effects in so great a degree. But this may be said for love, that if you strike it out of the soul, life would be insipid, and our being but half animated.”

IfsLoveMayDoeSaidSoulWould BeCertainPassionHalfEffectsProduceDegreesStrikesContraryAnimatedInsipidSoul Life
Book:Essays, Moral and Humorous: Also Essays on Imagination and Taste
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“The hours of a wise man are lengthened by his ideas, as those of a fool are by his passions. The time of the one is long, because he does not know what to do with it; so is that of the other, because he distinguishes every moment of it with useful or amusing thoughts--or, in other words, because the one is always wishing it away, and the other always enjoying it.”

KnowsMenLongDoeIdeasMomentsTimePassionWishEnjoyHoursWiseFoolAmusing
Book:The works of Joseph Addison: including the whole contents of Bp. Hurd's edition, with letters and other pieces not found in any previous collection; and Macaulay's essay on his life and works
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“Women were formed to temper Mankind, and sooth them into Tenderness and Compassion; not to set an Edge upon their Minds, and blowup in them those Passions which are too apt to rise of their own Accord.”

MindPassionWomenCompassionMankindEdgesSexismTemperTendernessAccord
Book:Remarks on several parts of Italy , &c in the years 1701, 1702, 1703. The Tatler. By Isaac Bickerstaffe, esq. The Spectator, no.1-89
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“It is easier for an artful Man, who is not in Love, to persuade his Mistress he has a Passion for her, and to succeed in his Pursuits, than for one who loves with the greatest Violence. True Love hath ten thousand Griefs, Impatiencies and Resentments, that render a Man unamiable in the Eyes of the Person whose Affection he sollicits.”

MenLovePersonsEyePassionGriefViolenceEasierThousandSucceedTenAffectionPursuitResentmentMistressCourtship
Book:The spectator
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“I always rejoice when I see a tribunal filled with a man of an upright and inflexible temper, who in the execution of his country's laws can overcome all private fear, resentment, solicitation, and even pity it self. Whatever passion enters into a sentence or decision, so far will there be in it a tincture of injustice. In short, justice discards party, friendship, kindred, and is therefore always represented as blind, that we may suppose her thoughts are wholly intent on the equity of a cause, without being diverted or prejudiced by objects foreign to it.”

MenMaySelfCountryLawPassionCausesJusticeDecisionPartyObjectsOvercomingBlindFilledInjusticeSentencesPityTemperRejoiceResentmentExecutionEquityKindredTribunalsSolicitation
Book:The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison: The Spectator [no. 487-600] The Guardian. The Lover. The present state of the war. The trial and conviction of Count Tariff. The Whig-examiner. The Freeholder [no. 1-30
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