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Quote by William Hazlitt

“It is a false principle that because we are entirely occupied with ourselves, we must equally occupy the thoughts of others. The contrary inference is the fair one.”

Quote by William Hazlitt

Book:Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)

Work

Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)

This illustrated volume includes a selection of essays, reviews, and literary criticism by the 19th-century English writer William Hazlitt. The collection showcases his wit, insight, and influence on English literature. more

Author

William Hazlitt

William Hazlitt, born on April 10, 1778, was an influential English essayist and literary critic. His works are renowned for their sharp observations and profound insights, which have had a lasting impact on 19th-century British literature. more

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“To speak highly of one with whom we are intimate is a species of egotism. Our modesty as well as our jealousy teaches us caution on this subject.”

Wells Speak Teach Subjects Species Intimate Modesty Caution Egotism

Book:Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)

“Elegance is something more than ease; it is more than a freedom from awkwardness or restraint. It implies, I conceive, a precision, a polish, a sparkling, spirited yet delicate.”

Ease Delicate Restraint Elegance Polish Precision Spirited Sparkling Awkwardness

Book:Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)

“A certain excess of animal spirits with thoughtless good-humor will often make more enemies than the most deliberate spite and ill-nature, which is on its guard, and strikes with caution and safety.”

Spirit Certain Animal Enemy Safety Ill Strikes Spite Excess Caution Deliberate Good Humor Animal Spirits

Author:William Hazlitt

“It is only those who never think at all, or else who have accustomed themselves to blood invariably on abstract ideas, that ever feel ennui.”

Thinking Feels Ideas Blood Abstract Accustomed Ennui

Author:William Hazlitt

“What passes in the world for talent or dexterity or enterprise is often only a want of moral principle. We may succeed where others fail, not from a greater share of invention, but from not being nice in the choice of expedients.”

World Want May Choices Moral Principles Greater Nice Failing Share Talent Succeed Invention Enterprise Being Nice Moral Principles Dexterity

Book:The Round Table. A collection of Essays ... By W. H. and Leigh Hunt

Source: The Round Table. A collection of Essays ... By W. H. and Leigh Hunt

“Envy is the deformed and distorted offspring of egotism; and when we reflect on the strange and disproportioned character of the parent, we cannot wonder at the perversity and waywardness of the child.”

Children Character Parent Wonder Strange Envy Egotism Offspring Perversity

Author:William Hazlitt

“Envy is the most universal passion. We only pride ourselves on the qualities we possess, or think we possess; but we envy the pretensions we have, and those which we have not, and do not even wish for. We envy the greatest qualities and every trifling advantage. We envy the most ridiculous appearance or affectation of superiority. We envy folly and conceit; nay, we go so far as to envy whatever confers distinction of notoriety, even vice and infamy.”

Source: Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)

“Mankind are so ready to bestow their admiration on the dead, because the latter do not hear it, or because it gives no pleasure to the objects of it. Even fame is the offspring of envy.”

Giving Pleasure Mankind Objects Ready Fame Envy Latter Admiration Offspring

Book:Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)

Source: Delphi Collected Works of William Hazlitt (Illustrated)

“We had rather do anything than acknowledge the merit of another if we can help it. We cannot bear a superior or an equal. Hence ridicule is sure to prevail over truth, for the malice of mankind, thrown into the scale, gives the casting weight.”

Ifs Giving Helping Mankind Bears Equal Weight Envy Scales Superiors Acknowledge Merit Thrown Ridicule Casting Malice

Author:William Hazlitt

“Experience makes us wise.”

Wise Experience

Book:Table talk

Source: Table talk