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
against beware branded degrading exercise idol liable power render rests themselves turns
The power rests with the multitude, but let them beware how the exercise of it turns against their own rights! It is not the idol but the worshippers that are to be dreaded, and who, by degrading one of their fellows, render themselves liable to be branded with the same indignities.
crowd nine power ten throw
Every one in a crowd has the power to throw dirt: nine out of ten have the inclination
arbitrary ballot power screen useful
The ballot is only useful as a screen from arbitrary power.
ancient dark modern power separates shore stood
He stood bewildered, not appalled, on that dark shore which separates the ancient and the modern world. . . . He is power, passion, self-will personified.
power delicacy persons
If a person has no delicacy, he has you in his power.
power crowds dirt
Every one in a crowd has the power to throw dirt; none out of ten have the inclination.
power men tyrants
The admiration of power in others is as common to man as the love of it in himself; the one makes him a tyrant, the other a slave.
honesty power hypocrisy
Want of principle is power. Truth and honesty set a limit to our efforts, which impudence and hypocrisy easily overleap.
pain power pleasure
Power is pleasure; and pleasure sweetens pain.
power knowing done
The definition of genius is that it acts unconsciously, and those who have produced immortal works have done so without knowing how or why.
anniversary birthday celebrate man money monuments notice
When a man is dead, they put money in his coffin, erect monuments to his memory, and celebrate the anniversary of his birthday in set speeches. Would they take any notice of him if he were living? No!
work
When I take up a work that I have read before (the oftener the better) I know what I have to expect. The satisfaction is not lessened by being anticipated.
afterwards anywhere borrow english-critic life spend traveling
I should like to spend the whole of my life in traveling abroad, if I could anywhere borrow another life to spend afterwards at home.
playing
The world has been doing little else but playing at make-believe all its lifetime.