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
inspirational smart fall
I'm not smart, but I like to observe. Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why.
inspirational life art
The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much.
book reading hands
When I take up a book I have read before, I know what to expect; the satisfaction is not lessened by being anticipated. I shake hands with, and look our old tried and valued friend in the face,--compare notes and chat the hour away.
attitude leisure-activities busy
The more we do, the more we can do; the more busy we are, the more leisure we have.
motivational happiness smile
A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.
peace war humanity
Those who are at war with others are not at peace with themselves.
art character exercise
A taste for liberal art is necessary to complete the character of a gentleman, Science alone is hard and mechanical. It exercises the understanding upon things out of ourselves, while it leaves the affections unemployed, or engrossed with our own immediate, narrow interests.
landscape void form
All is without form and void. Someone said of his landscapes that they were pictures of nothing and very like.
exercise opportunity thinking
It [will-making] is the latest opportunity we have of exercising the natural perversity of the disposition ... This last act of our lives seldom belies the former tenor of them for stupidity, caprice, and unmeaning spite. All that we seem to think of is to manage matters so (in settling accounts with those who are so unmannerly as to survive us) as to do as little good, and to plague and disappoint as many people, as possible.
lasts titles volume
The last sort I shall mention are verbal critics - mere word-catchers, fellows that pick out a word in a sentence and a sentence in a volume, and tell you it is wrong. The title of Ultra-Crepidarian critics has been given to a variety of this species.
wise men hypocrisy
Religion either makes men wise and virtuous, or it makes them set up false pretenses to both.
art lying hypocrisy
As hypocrisy is said to be the highest compliment to virtue, the art of lying is the strongest acknowledgment of the force of truth.
believe hypocrite practice
He is a hypocrite who professes what he does not believe; not he who does not practice all he wishes or approves.
hope expectations enjoyment
We dread life's termination as the close, not of enjoyment, but of hope.