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Laurence Sterne

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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Famous Laurence Sterne Quotes

“If ever I do a mean action, it must be in some interval betwixt one passion and another.”

Ifs Mean Action Passion Intervals

Author:Laurence Sterne

“Madness is consistent; which is more than can be said for poor reason. Whatever may be the ruling passion at the time continues equally so throughout the whole delirium, though it should last for life. Madmen are always constant in love; which no man in his senses ever was. Our passions and principles are steady in frenzy; but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.”

Men Should May Said Reason Whole Lasts Passion Poor Principles Return Madness Constant Senses Consistent Steady Ruling Madmen Frenzy Delirium Ruling Passion

Book:The Posthumous Works of Laurence Sterne: ...

Source: The Posthumous Works of Laurence Sterne: ...

“The great end of all religionis to purify our hearts--and conquer our passions--and in a word, to make us wiser and better men--better neighbours--better citizens--and better servants of GOD.”

Men Heart Ends Character Religion Passion Duty Citizens Conquer Servant Wiser Neighbour Servant Of God Better Man

Author:Laurence Sterne

“I know not whether the remark is to our honour or otherwise, that lessons of wisdom have never such power over us, as when they are wrought into the heart, through the ground-work of a story which engages the passions: Is it that we are like iron, and must first be heated before we can be wrought upon?”

Knows Firsts Heart Stories Passion Fiction Lessons Iron Honour Maxims Remarks

Book:The Works of Laurence Sterne ...: With a Life of the Author

Source: The Works of Laurence Sterne ...: With a Life of the Author

“Ye whose clay-cold heads and luke-warm hearts can argue down or mask your passions--tell me, what trespass is it that man should have them?... If nature has so wove her web of kindness, that some threads of love and desire are entangled with the piece--must the whole web be rent in drawing them out?”

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

“When a man gives himself up to the government of a ruling passion,--or, in other words, when his HOBBY-HORSE grows head- strong,--farewell cool reason and fair discretion.”

Men Giving Reason Government Passion Strong Grows Fairs Horse Hobbies Farewell Ruling Discretion Ruling Passion

Book:3 Books by Laurence Sterne

Source: 3 Books by Laurence Sterne

“[I have] been in love with one princess or another almost all my life, and I hope I shall go on so, till I die, being firmly persuaded, that if ever I do a mean action, it must be in some interval betwixt one passion and another.”

Ifs Men Mean Has Beens Action Motivation Dies Passion Goes On Men And Women Princess Intervals Been In Love

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

“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

“First, whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his creed. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbors, and where they separate, depend upon it, 'Tis for no other cause but quietness sake.”

Men Firsts Reason Passion Belief Causes Atheism Depends Sake Neighbor Suspects Creeds Disagreeable Troublesome Quietness Against Religion Bad Life

Author:Laurence Sterne