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
principles inference egotism
It is a false principle that because we are entirely occupied with ourselves, we must equally occupy the thoughts of others. The contrary inference is the fair one.
drama play remarkable
It is remarkable how virtuous and generously disposed every one is at a play.
despair cowardice
Despair swallows up cowardice.
strong stars real
As a general rule, those who are dissatisfied with themselves will seek to go out of themselves into an ideal world. Persons in strong health and spirits, who take plenty of air and exercise, who are "in favor with, their stars," and have a thorough relish of the good things of this life, seldom devote themselves in despair to religion or the muses. Sedentary, nervous, hypochondriacal people, on the contrary, are forced, for want of an appetite for the real and substantial, to look out for a more airy food and speculative comforts.
competition triumph ends
Death puts an end to rivalship and competition. The dead can boast no advantage over us, nor can we triumph over them.
genius dandyism species
Dandyism is a species of genius.
cowardice valor prudence
Cowardice is not synonymous with prudence. It often happens that the better part of discretion is valor.
art silence quality
Silence is one great art of conversation. He is not a fool who knows when to hold his tongue; and a person may gain credit for sense, eloquence, wit, who merely says nothing to lessen the opinion which others have of these qualities in themselves.
conversation repose
Repose is as necessary in conversation as in a picture.
confidence yield spirit
There is something captivating in spirit and intrepidity, to which, we often yield as to a resistless power; nor can he reasonably expect, the confidence of others who too apparently distrusts himself.
self giving judging
We judge of others for the most part by their good opinion of themselves; yet nothing gives such offense or creates so many enemies, as that extreme self-complacency or superciliousness of manner, which appears to set the opinion of every one else at defiance.
cities ideas numbers
The number of objects we see from living in a large city amuses the mind like a perpetual raree-show, without supplying it with any ideas.
feelings youth eternity
There is a feeling of Eternity in youth which makes us amends for everything. To be young is to be as one of the Immortals.
practice challenges impermanence
Our lives are ruled by impermanence. The challenge is how to create something of enduring value within the context of our impermanent lives. Soka Gakkai Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts.