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Laurence Sterne Quotes

Novelist

Laurence Sterne, born on November 24, 1713, and died on March 18, 1768, was a prominent English novelist of the 18th century. He is best known for his novel 'Tristram Shandy', which is considered a pioneer of modern fiction and is renowned for its unique narrative style and profound insights into human nature.

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All Men World May Literature Ifs Heart Way Mind Book Knows Should Soul Thinking Firsts Passion Said Writing Hands This World Wells

Famous Laurence Sterne Quotes

“To such, however, as do not choose to go so far back into these things, I can give no better advice, than that they skip over the remaining parts of this chapter; for I declare before-hand, 'tis wrote only for the curious and inquisitive.”

Humor Literature English Major

Book:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

Source: The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

“And in this, Sir, I am of so nice and singular a humour, that if I thought you was able to form the least judgment or probable conjecture to yourself, of what was to come in the next page, - I would tear it out of my book.”

Book Humor Reading Literature Classic Literature Tristam Shandy

Book:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

Source: The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

“I have begun a new book, on purpose that I might have room enough to explain the nature of the perplexities in which my uncle Toby was involved, from the many discourses and interrogations about the siege of Namur, where he received his wound.”

Humor Literature Classic Literature Tristam Shandy

Book:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

Source: The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

“Men tire themselves in the pursuit of sleep.”

Men Literature Sleep Pursuit Tire

Author:Laurence Sterne

“I take a simple view of life. It is keep your eyes open and get on with it.”

Life Eye Literature Simple Views Lovers Eyes

Author:Laurence Sterne

“Only the brave know how to forgive... a coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.”

Knows Literature Know How Forgiveness Bravery Forgiving Brave Coward I Forgive You What Is Forgiveness How To Forgive

Author:Laurence Sterne

“Nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.”

Ideas Literature Change Amusement Amusing

Author:Laurence Sterne

“I once asked a hermit in Italy how he could venture to live alone, in a single cottage, on the top of a mountain, a mile from any habitation? He replied, that Providence was his next-door neighbor.”

Next Literature Doors Mountain Neighbor Miles Providence Venture Cottages Hermits Next Door Neighbors

Book:The works of Laurence Sterne

Source: The works of Laurence Sterne

“Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.”

Literature Numbers Attention Marriage Quiet Understood Introvert Vague Alarms Courtship Vagueness

Author:Laurence Sterne

“Our passion and principals are constantly in a frenzy, but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.”

Reason Passion Literature Return Principal Comeback Frenzy

Author:Laurence Sterne

“But this is neither here nor there why do I mention it? Ask my pen, it governs me, I govern not it.”

Asks Literature Pens

Book:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

Source: The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

“Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.”

World Together Literature Sin This World Holes Occasions Wickedness Keyholes

Book:THE

Source: THE

“Lessons of wisdom have the most power over us when they capture the heart through the groundwork of a story, which engages the passions.”

Heart Stories Wisdom Passion Literature Power Lessons Capture Groundwork

Author:Laurence Sterne

“So much of motion, is so much of life, and so much of joy, and to stand still, or get on but slowly, is death and the devil.”

Stills Joy Literature Devil

Book:Tristram Shandy

Source: Tristram Shandy

“Titles of honour are like the impressions on coin; — which add no value to gold and silver, but only render brass current.”

Values Literature Honor Gold Add Currents Impression Titles Silver Coins Brass

Author:Laurence Sterne

“When a man is discontented with himself, it has one advantage - that it puts him into an excellent frame of mind for making a bargain.”

Men Mind Literature Advantage Excellent Bargains Frame Of Mind

Book:The Works of Laurence Sterne, in One Volume

Source: The Works of Laurence Sterne, in One Volume

“When the heart flies out before the understanding, it saves the judgment a world of pains.”

World Heart Pain Literature Understanding Judging Judgment

Book:A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy: And, Continuation of the Bramine's Journal : with Related Texts

Source: A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy: And, Continuation of the Bramine's Journal : with Related Texts

“In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.”

Men Wells Action Humanity Literature Pay Cases Worst Appearance Compliment Endeavour

Book:A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy: And, Continuation of the Bramine's Journal : with Related Texts

Source: A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy: And, Continuation of the Bramine's Journal : with Related Texts

“It is a great pity but tis certain from every day's observation of man, that he may be set on fire like a candle, at either end provided there is a sufficient wick standing out.”

Men May Ends Certain Literature Fire Standing Pity Observation Sufficient Candle Standing Out Great Day

Book:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

Source: The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

“There have been no sects in the Christian world, however absurd, which have not endeavoured to support their opinions by arguments drawn from Scripture.”

World Has Beens Christian Literature Opinion Support Argument Scripture Absurd Sects

Book:The Works of Laurence Sterne: Containing The Life and Opinions of Tristam Shandy, Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, Sermons, Letters, Etc

Source: The Works of Laurence Sterne: Containing The Life and Opinions of Tristam Shandy, Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, Sermons, Letters, Etc

“To write a book is for all the world like humming a song.”

World Writing Book Song Literature Humming

Book:The Works of Laurence Sterne: Containing The Life and Opinions of Tristan Shandy ... [etc.] ; with a Life of the Author Written by Himself

Source: The Works of Laurence Sterne: Containing The Life and Opinions of Tristan Shandy ... [etc.] ; with a Life of the Author Written by Himself

“Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world - though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst - the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!”

World May Literature Worst Criticism Critics Hypocrisy Cant Hypocrite

Author:Laurence Sterne

“God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.”

Literature Wind Temper Sheep Lambs

Book:Life of Lawrence Sterne by Percy Fitzgerald

Source: Life of Lawrence Sterne by Percy Fitzgerald

“Religion which lays so many restraints upon us, is a troublesome companion to those who will lay no restraints upon themselves.”

Religion Literature Lays Companion Restraint Troublesome

Book:Works ...

Source: Works ...