Quotes from Henry Fielding

slander is a more cruel weapon than a sword, as the wounds which the former gives are always incurable.

impossible; a word which, in common conversation, is often used to signify not only improbable, but often what is really very likely, and, sometimes, what hath certainly happened; an hyperbolical violence like that which is so frequently offered to the words infinite and eternal; by the former of which it is usual to express a distance of half a yard, and by the latter, a duration of five minutes. And thus it is as usual to assert the impossibility of losing what is already actually lost.

for it is a secret well known to great men, that, by conferring an obligation, they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of creating many enemies.

When I mention religion, I mean the Christian religion; and not only the Christian religion, but the Protestant religion; and not only the Protestant religion, but the Church of England. And when I mention honour, I mean that mode of Divine grace which is not only consistent with, but dependent upon, this religion; and is consistent with and dependent upon no other.

though envy is at best a very malignant passion, yet is its bitterness greatly heightened by mixing with contempt towards the same object;

though envy is at best a very malignant passion, yet is its bitterness greatly heightened by mixing with contempt towards the same object; and very much afraid I am, that whenever an obligation is joined to these two, indignation and not gratitude will be the product of all three.

a proof that good books, no more than good men, do always survive the bad.

It hath been observed, by wise men or women, I forget which, that all persons are doomed to be in love once in their lives.

The first is, If they have anything good in their house (which indeed very seldom happens) to produce it only to persons who travel with great equipages. 2dly, To charge the same for the very worst provisions, as if they were the best. And lastly, If any of their guests call but for little, to make them pay a double price for everything they have; so that the amount by the head may be much the same. The

Considering the unforeseen events of this world, we should be taught that no human condition should inspire men with absolute despair.

In all bargains, whether to fight or to marry, or concerning any other such business, little previous ceremony is required to bring the matter to an issue when both parties are really in earnest.

travels as slowly through centuries of monkish dulness, when the world seems to have been asleep

it was the universal opinion of all Mr Allworthy's family that he was certainly born to be hanged.

An incident which happened about this time will set the characters of these two lads more fairly before the discerning reader than is in the power of the longest dissertation.

for as I am, in reality, the founder of a new province of writing, so I am at liberty to make what laws I please therein.

I am, indeed, set over them for their own good only, and was created for their use, and not they for mine.

??, ???, ???, ????? ?? ?? ????????! ??????? ???? ??????, ????????? Ah, Tom, Tom, thou art a liquorish dog.

The elegant Lord Shaftesbury somewhere objects to telling too much truth: by which it may be fairly inferred, that, in some cases, to lie is not only excusable but commendable. And

Secondly, that what is commonly called love, namely, the desire of satisfying a voracious appetite with a certain quantity of delicate white human flesh, is by no means that passion for which I here contend. This is indeed more properly hunger; and as no glutton is ashamed to apply the word love to his appetite, and to say he LOVES such and such dishes; so may the lover of this kind, with equal propriety, say, he HUNGERS after such and such women.

as many of my readers, I hope, know what an exquisite delight there is in conveying pleasure to a beloved object, so some few, I am afraid, may have experienced the satisfaction of tormenting one we hate.

men of true wisdom and goodness are contented to take persons and things as they are, without complaining of their imperfections, or attempting to amend them.

I hope my friends will pardon me when I declare, I know none of them without a fault;

Some people have been noted to be able to read in no book but their own.

There is, perhaps, no surer mark of folly, than an attempt to correct the natural infirmities of those we love.