Quotes from Joseph Addison

And, pleased th' Almighty's orders to perform, Rides in the whirl-wind, and directs the storm.

Nothing is so much admired, and so little understood, as wit.

When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations.

We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.

When love's well-timed 'tis not a fault to love; The strong, the brave, the virtuous, and the wise, Sink in the soft captivity together.

Knowledge is that which, next to virtue, truly raises one person above another.

How beautiful is death, when earned by virtue! 80 Who would not be that youth? what pity is it That we can die but once to serve our country!8 —Why sits this sadness on your brows, my friends? I should have blushed if Cato's house had stood Secure, and flourished in a civil war. 85 —Portius, behold thy brother, and remember Thy life is not thy own, when Rome demands it.

Reading is to the mind what exerise is to the body.

Whoe'er is brave and virtuous, is a Roman.

Decius A style like this becomes a conqueror. Cato Decius, a style like this becomes a Roman. Decius What is a Roman, that is Caesar's foe? 40 Cato Greater than Caesar: he's a friend to virtue.

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

But there is nothing that makes its way more directly to the Soul than Beauty, which immediately diffuses a secret satisfaction and complacency through the imagination, and gives a finishing to any thing that is Great or Uncommon.

when I see kings lying by those who deposed them,... or holy men that divided the world with their contests and disputes, I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind.

Justice is an unassailable fortress, built on the brow of a mountain which cannot be overthrown by the violence of torrents, nor demolished by the force of armies.

Let Rufus weep, rejoice, stand, sit, or walk, Still he can nothing but of Nævia talk: Let him eat, drink, ask Questions, or dispute, Still he must speak of Nævia, or be mute. He writ to his Father, ending with this Line, I am, my Lovely Nævia, ever thine.

Here will I hold. If there's a power above us, (And that there is all nature cries aloud Thro' all her works), He must delight in virtue; And that which he delights in must be happy.

Sir Roger was proceeding in the character of him

I was highly pleased to see the discipline of the pack, and the good-nature of the Knight, who could not find in his heart to murder a creature that had given him so much diversion.

Cato Lose not a thought on me, I'm out of danger. Heaven will not leave me in the victor's hand. Caesar shall never say, I conquered Cato. But, oh! my friends, your safety fills my heart With anxious thoughts: a thousand secret terrors 115 Rise in my soul: how shall I save my friends! 'Tis now, O Caesar, I begin to fear thee.

When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, The post of honour is a private station.15

L'editore cavalca il turbine e dirige la tempesta.

I'm sick to death—Oh when shall I get loose From this vain world, the abode of guilt and sorrow! —And yet methinks a beam of light breaks in On my departing soul. Alas! I fear 95 I've been too hasty. O ye powers that search The heart of man, and weigh his inmost thoughts, If I have done amiss, impute it not!— The best may err, but you are good, and—oh!  [Dies.]

Reading to the mind is what exercise is to the body.

A man must be excessively stupid, as well as uncharitable, who believes that there is no virtue but on his own side, and that there are not men as honest as himself who may differ from him in political principles.