Quotes from Joseph Addison

Arguments out of a petty mouth are unanswerable.

The statue lies hid in a block of marble; and the art of the statuary only clears away the superfluous matter, and removes the rubbish.

Let echo, too, perform her part, Prolonging every note with art; And in a low expiring strain, Play all the comfort o'er again.

There is a great amity between designing and art.

Good nature is more agreeable in conversation than wit and gives a certain air to the countenance which is more amiable than beauty.

There is not so variable a thing in nature as a lady's head-dress.

There is nothing that makes its way more directly into the soul than beauty.

Among the several kinds of beauty, the eye takes most delight in colors.

Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.

It is not the business of virtue to extirpate the affections of the mind, but to regulate them.

There is nothing more requisite in business than despatch.

I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.

A woman seldom asks advice before she has bought her wedding clothes.

There is nothing which we receive with so much reluctance as advice.

To be exempt from the passions with which others are tormented, is the only pleasing solitude.

I have often thought, says Sir Roger, it happens very well that Christmas should fall out in the middle of Winter.

Unbounded courage and compassion join'd, Tempering each other in the victor's mind, Alternately proclaim him good and great, And make the hero and the man complete.

Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man ... courage which arises from a sense of duty acts in a uniform manner.

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.

Modesty is not only an ornament, but also a guard to virtue.

Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.

The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.

If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother and hope your guardian genius.

An opera may be allowed to be extravagantly lavish in its decorations, as its only design is to gratify the senses and keep up an indolent attention in the audience.