Will Christian
Will Christian
witty self able
The next best thing to being witty one's self, is to be able to be able to quote another's wit.
yield mistress favors
Fortune, like a coy mistress, loves to yield her favors, though she makes us wrest them from her.
fate hawks resentment
Resentments, carried too far, expose us to a fate analogous to that of the fish-hawk, when he strikes his talons too deep into a fish beyond his capacity to lift, and is carried under and drowned by it.
retirement long doe
It is so natural for us to consider our presence as indispensable in the world, so long as we have much to do in it, that the wisdom of retiring wholly from employments in advanced life may be questioned. Certainly, he who does so is in danger of finding, before long, that he has only given up the occupation to which he has been accustomed, for the new business of calculating the period of his decease.
evil abuse satire
Satire is an abuse of wit. It corrects few evils.
luxury slavery
Better freedom with a crust, than slavery with every luxury.
mean writing thinking
In general, inquiry ceases when we adopt a theory. After that, we overlook whatever makes against it, and see and think, and talk and write, only in its favor. Indeed, when we have a snug, comfortable theory, to which we are much attached, they appear to us as a very mean set of facts that will not square with it.
thinking empires thrones
All power is indeed weak compared with that of the thinker. He sits upon the throne of his Empire of Thought, mightier far than they who wield material sceptres.
travel cities sight
New situations inspire new thoughts. Here is the benefit of travelling, much more than in mere sight-seeing. We lose ourselves in the streets of our own city, and go abroad to find ourselves.
tree may degrees
It is curious to what a degree one may become attached to a fine tree, especially when it is placed where trees are rare.
wall race feelings
Within the sacred walls of libraries we find the best thoughts, the purest feelings, and the most exalted imaginings of our race.
believe book mean
However much of time, labor, or other means it takes to establish a reputation, it frequently happens that it requires nearly as much to maintain it. One who has written a good book, is expected on all occasions to "talk like a book." Or, if one has achieved an act of heroism, he is expected to perform acts of heroism for the edification of all who approach him. There are people who can never believe they see a lion unless they hear him roar.
life noble rich
Life is indeed either a rich possession or a poor, according as it is made subservient to noble aims or ignoble pleasures.
life reality relief
Life being full of harsh realities, we seek relief from them in a variety of pleasing delusions.