Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sterne
Laurence Sternewas an Irish novelist and an Anglican clergyman. He wrote the novels The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy, and also published many sermons, wrote memoirs, and was involved in local politics. Sterne died in London after years of fighting consumption...
NationalityIrish
ProfessionNovelist
Date of Birth24 November 1713
CountryIreland
strong horse farewell
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.
writing next firsts
I write the first sentence and trust in God for the next.
writing firsts almighty-god
I begin with writing the first sentence—and trusting to Almighty God for the second.
hands able actors
An actor should be able to create the universe in the palm of his hand.
world may trouble
We are born to trouble; and we may depend upon it, whilst we live in this world, we shall have it, though with intermissions.
mother father wish
I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me.
men doe funny-travel
An English man does not travel to see English men.
forgiveness brave forgiving
The brave only know how to forgive.
order matter france
"They order," said I, "this matter better in France."
strength wisdom loneliness
In solitude the mind gains strength and learns to lean upon itself.
motivational education business
The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.
writing thinking talking
Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.
men skills luck
The histories of the lives and fortunes of men are full of instances of this nature,--where favorable times and lucky accidents have done for them, what wisdom or skill could not.
travel owing littles
Conversation is a traffick; and if you enter into it, without some stock of knowledge, to ballance the account perpetually betwixtyou,--the trade drops at once: and this is the reasonwhy travellers have so little [good] conversation with natives,--owing to their [the natives'] suspicionthat there is nothing to be extracted from the conversationworth the trouble of their bad language.