Home / Authors / 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.

Filter quotes by topic

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

“A man should know something of his own country too, before he goes abroad.”

Knows Men Should Country

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 mind should be accustomed to make wise reflections, and draw curious conclusions as it goes along; the habitude of which made Pliny the Younger affirm that he never read book so bad but he drew some profit from it.”

Should Mind Made Book Reading Wise Draws Reflection Profit Conclusion Curious Accustomed

Book:The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

Source: The life and opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman

“Simplicity is the great friend to nature, and if I would be proud of anything in this silly world, it should be of this honest alliance.”

Ifs World Should Would Be Honest Proud Simplicity Silly Be Proud Alliances Great Friend

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

“It is curious to observe the triumph of slight incidents over the mind; and what incredible weight they have in forming and governing our opinions, both of men and things, that trifles light as air shall waft a belief into the soul, and plant it so immovable within it, that Euclid's demonstrations, could they be brought to batter it in breach, should not all have power to overthrow it!”

Men Should Mind Soul Light Belief Opinion Air Weight Plant Incredibles Curious Triumph Incidents Demonstration Governing Trifles Breach Euclid

Author:Laurence Sterne

“There is not a greater paradox in nature,--than that so good a religion [as Christianity] should be no better recommended by its professors.”

Should Religion Christianity Greater Hypocrisy Paradox Professors

Author:Laurence Sterne

“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

“Certainly it was ordained as a scourge upon the pride of human wisdom, that the wisest of us all, should thus outwit ourselves, and eternally forego our purposes in the intemperate act of pursuing them.”

Should Humans Purpose Pride Ambition Excess Wisest Scourge Human Wisdom

Book:The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. And A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy ... With Life of the Author by Sir Walter Scott, Portrait, and Outline Wood Engravings After Thomas Stothard

Source: The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. And A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy ... With Life of the Author by Sir Walter Scott, Portrait, and Outline Wood Engravings After Thomas Stothard

“When a poor disconsolated drooping creature is terrified from all enjoyment,--prays without ceasing 'till his imagination is heated,--fasts and mortifies and mopes, till his body is in as bad a plight as his mind; is it a wonder, that the mechanical disturbancesof an empty belly, interpreted by an empty head, should be mistook for [the] workings [of God].”

Should Mind Body Imagination Poor Wonder Praying Creatures Empty Enjoyment Terrified Belly Plight Empty Heads

Author:Laurence Sterne

“An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.”

Should Hands Able Universe Actors Palms

Author:Laurence Sterne

“I'll not hurt thee, says Uncle Toby, rising with the fly in his hand. Go, he says, opening the window to let it escape. Why should I hurt thee? This world is surely wide enough to hold both thee and me.”

World Should Enough Hands Hurt Animal This World Window Wide Opening Thee Rising Pet Should I Uncles Insects Spiders Toby

Author:Laurence Sterne

“Go, poor devil, get thee gone! Why should I hurt thee? This world surely is wide enough to hold both thee and me.”

World Should Enough Hurt Poor Gone This World Devil Wide Thee Should I

Author:Laurence Sterne