Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addisonwas an English essayist, poet, playwright, and politician. He was the eldest son of The Reverend Lancelot Addison. His name is usually remembered alongside that of his long-standing friend, Richard Steele, with whom he founded The Spectator magazine...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionWriter
Date of Birth1 May 1672
independent greatness men
He only is a great man who can neglect the applause of the multitude and enjoy himself independent of its favor.
greatness defense obscurity
There is no defense against reproach, but obscurity; it is a kind of concomitant to greatness.
inspirational funny nature
Men may change their climate, but they cannot change their nature. A man that goes out a fool cannot ride or sail himself into common sense.
nature rain sunshine
A cloudy day or a little sunshine have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most recent blessings or misfortunes.
love life pain
Mysterious love, uncertain treasure, hast thou more of pain or pleasure! Endless torments dwell about thee: Yet who would live, and live without thee!
humble humility people
Plenty of people wish to become devout, but no one wishes to be humble.
war two voice
My voice is still for war. Gods! can a Roman senate long debate Which of the two to choose, slavery or death?
eye gay shining
For wheresoe'er I turn my ravish'd eyes, Gay gilded scenes and shining prospects rise, Poetic fields encompass me around, And still I seem to tread on classic ground.
men good-man ancestry
Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious, but an ill one more contemptible.
queens taken letters
It was a saying of an ancient philosopher, which I find some of our writers have ascribed to Queen Elizabeth, who perhaps might have taken occasion to repeat it, that a good face is a letter of recommendation.
gold disposition latter
A good disposition is more valuable than gold, for the latter is the gift of fortune, but the former is the dower of nature.
complaining pompey shade
Great Pompey's shade complains that we are slow, And Scipio's ghost walks unaveng'd amongst us!
secret divinity causes
The transition from cause to effect, from event to event, is often carried on by secret steps, which our foresight cannot divine, and our sagacity is unable to trace.
hands shining singing
For ever singing as they shine, The hand that made us is divine.