William Hazlitt
William Hazlitt
William Hazlittwas an English writer, drama and literary critic, painter, social commentator, and philosopher. He is now considered one of the greatest critics and essayists in the history of the English language, placed in the company of Samuel Johnson and George Orwell. He is also acknowledged as the finest art critic of his age. Despite his high standing among historians of literature and art, his work is currently little read and mostly out of print...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionCritic
Date of Birth10 April 1778
anyone dies gap leaves others trying
When a person dies who does any one thing better than anyone else in the world, which so many others are trying to do well, it leaves a gap in society.
english-critic gives millions
The least pain in our little finger gives us more concern and uneasiness than the destruction of millions of our fellow-beings.
defined english-critic inward outward
Gracefulness has been defined to be the outward expression of the inward harmony of the soul.
change constant learn left leisure objects outward respect
Those who from a constant change and dissipation of outward objects have not a moment's leisure left for their own thoughts, can feel no respect for themselves, and learn little consideration for humanity.
cannot good great management miss opportunity saying trusted
Those who cannot miss an opportunity of saying a good thing . . . are not to be trusted with the management of any great question.
evils great resent
To great evils we submit; we resent little provocations
cease manner until
We never do anything well until we cease to think about the manner of doing it
affairs confined daily men motives opportunity rest small study understanding
The thing is plain. All that men really understand, is confined to a very small compass; to their daily affairs and experience; to what they have an opportunity to know, and motives to study or practice. The rest is affectation and imposture.
english-critic great himself man truly
No truly great man ever thought himself so.
english-critic faults friend talk
I like a friend better for having faults that one can talk about.
crowd nine power ten throw
Every one in a crowd has the power to throw dirt: nine out of ten have the inclination
best insults submit
The best way to procure insults is to submit to them.
arbitrary ballot power screen useful
The ballot is only useful as a screen from arbitrary power.
carriage existence graceful heard indebted nose scarcely whose
A person may be indebted for a nose or an eye, for a graceful carriage or a voluble discourse, to a great-aunt or uncle, whose existence he has scarcely heard of.