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Quote by Joseph Addison

“No man writes a book without meaning something, though he may not have the faculty of writing consequentially and expressing his meaning.”

Quote by Joseph Addison

Author

Joseph Addison, born on May 1, 1672, and died on June 17, 1719, was an influential English essayist, dramatist, and poet. He is known for his elegant prose style and his co-authorship of the magazine 'The Spectator' with Richard Steele. more

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“A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world; and if in the present life his happiness arises from the subduing of his desires, it will arise in the next from the gratification of them.”

Ifs Men World Mind Desire Next Enjoy This World Blessing Arise Contentment Gratification Present Life Greatest Blessings

Book:The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison: The Spectator. The Guardian. The Lover. The present state of the war, and the necessity of augmentation, considered. The late trial and conviction of Count Tariff. The Whig-examiner. The Freeholder

Source: The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison: The Spectator. The Guardian. The Lover. The present state of the war, and the necessity of augmentation, considered. The late trial and conviction of Count Tariff. The Whig-examiner. The Freeholder

“Contentment produces, in some measure, all those effects which the alchemist usually ascribes to what he calls the philosopher's stone; and if it does not bring riches, it does the same thing by banishing the desire for them.”

Ifs Doe Desire Effects Produce Stones Philosopher Riches Contentment Alchemist

Book:Essays, Moral and Humorous. Also Essays on Imagination and Taste

Source: Essays, Moral and Humorous. Also Essays on Imagination and Taste

“True fortitude is seen in great exploits That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides; And all else is tow'ring phrenzy and distraction.”

Justice Courage Guides Rings Distraction Fortitude Exploits Warrants Tow

Author:Joseph Addison

“The greatest parts, without discretion as observed by an elegant writer, may be fatal to their owner; as Polyphemus, deprived of his eyes, was only the more exposed on account of his enormous strength and stature.”

May Eye Accounts Enormous His Eyes Owners Exposed Elegant Deprived Discretion Stature Polyphemus

Author:Joseph Addison

“There are many more shining qualities in the mind of man, but there is none so useful as discretion.”

Men Mind Quality Shining Discretion

Book:The spectator

Source: The spectator

“A fine coat is but a livery when the person who wears it discovers no higher sense than that of a footman.”

Persons Fine Higher Coats

Book:The spectator

Source: The spectator

“The peacock in all his pride does not display half the colors that appear in the garments of a British lady when she is dressed.”

Doe Half Color Pride British Display Garments Peacock

Book:The Works of the Late Right Honorable Joseph Addison, Esq;

Source: The Works of the Late Right Honorable Joseph Addison, Esq;

“To this end, nothing is to be more carefully consulted than plainness. In a lady's attire this is the single excellence; for to be what some people call fine, is the same vice, in that case, as to be florid is in writing or speaking.”

People Writing Ends Cases Fine Excellence Vices Attire Plainness

Book:The Tatler and the Guardian: Complete in One Volume, with Notes, and a General Index

Source: The Tatler and the Guardian: Complete in One Volume, with Notes, and a General Index

“Virgil has very finely touched upon the female passion for dress and shows, in the character of Camilla; who though she seems to have shaken off all the other weaknesses of her sex, is still described as a woman in this particular.”

Stills Character Shows Seems Passion Sex Particular Weakness Female Dresses Touched

Book:The spectator

Source: The spectator

“T is liberty crowns Britannia's Isle, And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile.”

Liberty Rocks Mountain England Crowns Barren Bleak Isle

Book:The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison

Source: The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison