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
life greatness men
No man is truly great who is great only in his lifetime. The test of greatness is the page of history.
people genius vocation
People of genius do not excel in any profession because they work in it, they work in it because they excel.
modesty great-person persons
No truly great person ever thought themselves so.
fashion clothes dresses
Those who make their dress a principal part of themselves, will, in general, become of no more value than their dress.
life travel home
I would like to spend the whole of my life traveling, if I could anywhere borrow another life to spend at home.
nice filth noses
Persons who undertake to pry into, or cleanse out all the filth of a common sewer, either cannot have very nice noses, or will soon lose them.
inspirational confidence positive-attitude
As is our confidence, so is our capacity.
character eye judging
We are fonder of visiting our friends in health than in sickness. We judge less favorably of their characters when any misfortune happens to them; and a lucky hit, either in business or reputation, improves even their personal appearance in our eyes.
practice
Great thoughts reduced to practice become great acts.
respect men way
The way to procure insults is to submit to them. A man meets with no more respect than he exacts.
worst
His worst is better than any other person's best.
weakness degrees liable
Weakness has its hidden resources, as well as strength. There is a degree of folly and meanness which we cannot calculate upon, and by which we are as much liable to be foiled as by the greatest ability or courage.
weakness degrees liable
Weakness has its hidden resources, as well as strength. There is a degree of folly and meanness which we cannot calculate upon, and by which we are as much liable to be foiled as by the greatest ability or courage.
life happy-life wells
Well I've had a happy life.