“They who have considered our nature, affirm that shame and disgrace are two of the most insupportable evils of human life: the courage and spirits of many have master’d other misfortunes and borne themselves up against them; but the wisest and best of souls have not been a match for these.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Shame
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“Most of us are aware of and pretend to detest the barefaced instances of that hypocrisy by which men deceive others, but few of us are upon our guard or see that more fatal hypocrisy by which we deceive and over-reach our own hearts.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Hypocrisy
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“Look into the world–how often do you behold a sordid wretch, whose straight heart is open to no man’s affliction, taking shelter behind an appearance of piety, and putting on the garb of religion, which none but the merciful and compassionate have a title to wear.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Hypocrisy
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“We all cry out that the world is corrupt,–and I fear too justly,–but we never reflect, what we have to thank for it, and that it is our open countenance of vice, which gives the lye to our private censures of it, which is its chief protection and encouragement.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Hypocrisy
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Hypocrisy
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“The goods of fortune … were never intended to be talked out of the world.–But as virtue and true wisdom lie in the middle of extremes,–on one hand, not to neglect and despise riches, so as to forget ourselves,–and on the other, not to pursue and love them so, as to forget God;Mto have them sometimes in our heads,–but always something more important in our hearts.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Wealth
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Moderation
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“De gustibus non est disputandum;Mthat is, there is no disputing against HOBBY-HORSES; and, for my part, I seldom do … for … I keep a couple of pads myself, upon which, in their turns … I frequently ride out and take the air.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Tolerance
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“Avoid all kinds of pleasantry and facetiousness in thy discourse with her, and … suffer her not to look into Rabelais, or Scarro”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Passion
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“When a man gives himself up to the government of a ruling passion,–or, in other words, when his HOBBY-HORSE grows head- strong,–farewell cool reason and fair discretion.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Passion
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“We often think ourselves inconsistent creatures, when we are the furthest from it, and all the variety of shapes and contradictory appearances we put on, are in truth but so many different attempts to gratify the same governing appetite.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Passion
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“So that if you would form a just judgment of what is of infinite importance to you not to be misled in,–namely, in what degree of real merit you stand … call in religion and morality.–Look,–What is written in the law of God?–How readest thou?–Consult calm reason and the unchangeable obligations of justice and truth;Mwhat say they?”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Religion
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“When the affections so kindly break loose, Joy, is another name for Religion.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Religion
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“There is not a greater paradox in nature,–than that so good a religion [as Christianity] should be no better recommended by its professors.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Religion
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“Strange!–that we should only begin to think of GOD with comfort,–when with joy and comfort we can think of nothing else.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Religion
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“I guard this box, as I would the instrumental parts of my religion, to help my mind on to something better.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Religion
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“It was not till the middle of the second dance, when, from some pauses in the movement wherein they all seemed to look up, I fancied I could distinguish an elevation of spirit different from that which is the cause or the effect of simple jollity.–In a word, I thought I beheld Religion mixing in the dance.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Religion
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“Hail ye small sweet courtesies of life, for smooth do ye make the road of it! like grace and beauty which beget inclinations to love at first sight; ’tis ye who open this door and let the stranger in.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Hospitality
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“I pity the man who can travel from Dan to Beersheba, and cry, ‘Tis all barren–and so it is; and so is all the world to him who will not cultivate the fruits it offers.”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Traveling
Vote Up
0
Vote Down
Favorite
“They order, said I, this matter better in France–”
Laurence Sterne
Submitted by Quonation |Category: Traveling
