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Quote by Joseph Addison

“Among the writers of antiquity there are none who instruct us more openly in the manners of their respective times in which they lived than those who have employed themselves in satire, under whatever dress it may appear.”

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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“Should a writer single out and point his raillery at particular persons, or satirize the miserable, he might be sure of pleasing a great part of his readers, but must be a very ill man if he could please himself.”

Ifs Men Should Persons Might Particular Reader Please Ill Miserable Satire

Author:Joseph Addison

“Simonides, a poet famous in his generation, is, I think, author of the oldest satire that is now extant, and, as some say, of the first that was ever written.”

Thinking Firsts Written Generations Poet Satire

Book:The spectator

Source: The spectator

“The statue lies hid in a block of marble; and the art of the statuary only clears away the superfluous matter, and removes the rubbish.”

Art Matter Lying Block Remove Sculpture Statues Marble Rubbish Superfluous

Book:The spectator

Source: The spectator

“A thousand trills and quivering sounds In airy circles o'er us fly, Till, wafted by a gentle breeze, They faint and languish by degrees, And at a distance die.”

Dies Sound Thousand Degrees Distance Circles Gentle Breeze Airy Languish Trill

Book:Delphi Complete Works of Joseph Addison (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Complete Works of Joseph Addison (Illustrated)

“I have but nine-pence in ready money, but I can draw for a thousand pounds.”

I Can Ready Thousand Speech Draws Nine Pounds

Author:Joseph Addison

“Why, a spirit is such a little, little thing, that I have heard man, who was a great scholar, say that he'll dance ye a hornpipe upon the point of a needle.”

Men Littles Spirit Heard Little Things Scholar Needles

Book:A Select Collection of the Best Modern English Plays: Vol. IV.

Source: A Select Collection of the Best Modern English Plays: Vol. IV.

“Instability of temper ought to be checked when it disposes men to wander from one scheme to another: since such a fickleness cannot but be attended with fatal consequences.”

Men Ought Consequence Wander Temper Schemes Instability

Author:Joseph Addison

“Amidst the soft variety I'm lost.”

Book:The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison: Poems on several occasions. Poemata. Dialogues upon the usefulness of ancient medals, especially in relation to the Latin and Greek poets. Remarks on several parts of Italy, in the years 1701, 1702, 1703

Source: The Works of the Right Honourable Joseph Addison: Poems on several occasions. Poemata. Dialogues upon the usefulness of ancient medals, especially in relation to the Latin and Greek poets. Remarks on several parts of Italy, in the years 1701, 1702, 1703

“Guard thy heart on this weak side, where most our nature fails.”

Heart Sides Failing Weakness Weak

Book:Cato: A Tragedy, in Five Acts

Source: Cato: A Tragedy, in Five Acts

“Wine heightens indifference into love, love into jealousy, and jealousy into madness. It often turns the good-natured man into an idiot, and the choleric into an assassin. It gives bitterness to resentment, it makes vanity insupportable, and displays every little spot of the soul in its utmost deformity.”

Men Giving Littles Soul Turns Madness Wine Spots Vanity Idiot Indifference Bitterness Display Resentment Assassins Deformity

Book:The Spectator, in Miniature: Being the Principal Religious, Moral, Humourous, Satirical and Critical Essays, in that Publication Compressed Into Two Volumes

Source: The Spectator, in Miniature: Being the Principal Religious, Moral, Humourous, Satirical and Critical Essays, in that Publication Compressed Into Two Volumes