Henry Fielding

Henry Fielding
Henry Fieldingwas an English novelist and dramatist best known for his rich, earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones. Additionally, he holds a significant place in the history of law enforcement, having used his authority as a magistrate to foundwhat some have called London's first police force, the Bow Street Runners. His younger sister, Sarah, also became a successful writer...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth22 April 1707
dealt discover reasons rid since
Since I have dealt in suds, I could never discover more than two reasons for shaving; the one is to get a beard, the other is to get rid of one
may serious ridiculous
A comic writer should of all others be the least excused for deviating from nature, since it may not be always so easy for a serious poet to meet with the great and the admirable; but life every where furnishes an accurate observer with the ridiculous.
ridiculous source
The only source of the true Ridiculous (as it appears to me) is affectation
animal proud ridiculous
There is not in the universe a more ridiculous, nor a more contemptible animal, than a proud clergyman.
faults vices ridiculous
Great vices are the proper objects of our detestation, smaller faults of our pity, but affectation appears to be the only true source of the ridiculous.
writing sides ridiculous
What caricature is in painting, burlesque is in writing; and in the same manner the comic writer and painter correlate to each other; as in the former, the painter seems to have the advantage, so it is in the latter infinitely on the side of the writer. For the monstrous is much easier to paint than describe, and the ridiculous to describe than paint.
agreeable blind commend flattery fool knave receive
Flattery is never so agreeable as to our blind side; commend a fool for his wit, or a knave for his honesty, and they will receive you into their bosoms
animal composed husband monstrous
Composed that monstrous animal a husband and wife.
death dying
It has often been said that it is not death but dying that is terrible.
afterwards calamities cause discovered found public schools vice
I have found it; I have discovered the cause of all the misfortunes which befell him. A public school, Joseph, was the cause of all the calamities which he afterwards suffered. Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.
hath injured man reason suspect trust
Never trust the man who hath reason to suspect that you know he hath injured you.
best heads prudence
The prudence of the best heads is often defeated by the tenderness of the best hearts.
begets
Dancing begets warmth, which is the parent of wantonness.
adversity bear cannot endure english-novelist equal former greatness likely mind prosperity
He that can heroically endure adversity will bear prosperity with equal greatness of soul; for the mind that cannot be dejected by the former is not likely to be transported with the later.