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Samuel Richardson Quotes

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Samuel Richardson (August 19, 1689 - July 4, 1761) was an 18th-century English writer, widely regarded as one of the founders of the modern English novel. Born in London during the reign of James II, he initially worked in book printing and publishing before turning to writing. Richardson's major works include 'Pamela,' 'Clarissa,' and 'Sir Charles Grandison,' which are renowned for their psychological depth and vivid character development. He pioneered the use of diary and epistolary formats, allowing readers intimate access to characters' inner worlds. His novels were immensely popular in their time and significantly influenced the development of the novel form, particularly in psychological characterization and social commentary. Richardson's focus on moral instruction and feminine virtue reflected 18th-century English societal values.

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Famous Samuel Richardson Quotes

“We all know by theory that there is no permanent happiness in this life: But the weight of the precept is not felt in the same manner as when it is confirmed to us by a heavy calamity.”

Knows Happiness Felt Theory Weight Heavy This Life Permanent Calamity

Book:A collection of the moral and instructive sentiments: a facsimile reproduction

Source: A collection of the moral and instructive sentiments: a facsimile reproduction

“If a woman knows a man to be a libertine, yet will, without scruple, give him her company, he will think half the ceremony between them is over; and will probably only want an opportunity to make her repent of her confidence in him.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Men Want Giving Opportunity Half Company Repent Ceremony Scruples Libertine

Book:A collection of the moral and instructive sentiments, maxims, cautions, and reflexions, contained in the histories of Pamela, Clarissa, and Sir Charles Grandison: Digested under proper heads, with references to the volume, ...

Source: A collection of the moral and instructive sentiments, maxims, cautions, and reflexions, contained in the histories of Pamela, Clarissa, and Sir Charles Grandison: Digested under proper heads, with references to the volume, ...

“What pleasure can those over-happy persons know, who, from their affluence and luxury, always eat before they are hungry and drink before they are thirsty?”

Knows Persons Pleasure Drink Hungry Luxury Thirsty Affluence Happy Person

“What a world is this! What is there in it desirable? The good we hope for so strangely mixed, that one knows not what to wish for!And one half of mankind tormenting the other, and being tormented themselves in tormenting!”

Knows World Life Wish Half Mankind Human Nature Desirable One Half

Book:Clarissa Harlowe, or The History of a Young Lady - Complete

Source: Clarissa Harlowe, or The History of a Young Lady - Complete

“The World is not enough used to this way of writing, to the moment. It knows not that in the minutiae lie often the unfoldings ofthe Story, as well as of the heart; and judges of an action undecided, as if it were absolutely decided.”

Ifs Knows World Way Writing Wells Heart Enough Moments Stories Action Used Lying Reading Judging Decided Unfolding Undecided Minutiae

Author:Samuel Richardson

“Men and women are brothers and sisters; they are not of different species; and what need be obtained to know both, but to allow for different modes of education, for situation and constitution, or perhaps I should rather say, for habits, whether good or bad.”

Knows Men Needs Should Different Imagination Situation Psychology Brother Habit Men And Women Constitution Species Brothers And Sisters

Book:The Correspondence of Samuel Richardson, Author of Pamela, Clarissa, and Sir Charles Grandison: Selected from the Original Manuscripts, Bequeathed by Him to His Family, to which are Prefixed, a Biographical Account of that Author, and Observations on His Writings

Source: The Correspondence of Samuel Richardson, Author of Pamela, Clarissa, and Sir Charles Grandison: Selected from the Original Manuscripts, Bequeathed by Him to His Family, to which are Prefixed, a Biographical Account of that Author, and Observations on His Writings

“Men know no medium: They will either, spaniel-like, fawn at your feet, or be ready to leap into your lap.”

Knows Men Feet Ready Mediums Leap Lap Courtship Fawns Spaniels

Book:The History of Sir Charles Grandison: In a Series of Letters Published from the Originals, by the Editor of Pamela and Clarissa. In Seven Volumes

Source: The History of Sir Charles Grandison: In a Series of Letters Published from the Originals, by the Editor of Pamela and Clarissa. In Seven Volumes

“It is a happy art to know when one has said enough. I would leave my hearers wishing me to say more rather than give them cause toshow, by their inattention, that I had said too much.”

Knows Giving Art Said Enough Wish Causes Too Much Conversation Inattention

Author:Samuel Richardson

“I know not my own heart if it be not absolutely free.”

Ifs Knows Heart My Own

Book:The Novels of Samuel Richardson...

Source: The Novels of Samuel Richardson...

“Vast is the field of Science... the more a man knows, the more he will find he has to know.”

Knows Men Knowledge Fields

Book:The history of sir Charles Grandison, in a series of letters publ. by the editor of Pamela. To which is added A brief history of the treatment which the editor has met with from certain booksellers and printers in Dublin

Source: The history of sir Charles Grandison, in a series of letters publ. by the editor of Pamela. To which is added A brief history of the treatment which the editor has met with from certain booksellers and printers in Dublin