Quotes from Laurence Sterne

Now or never was the time.

That's another story, replied my father.

'Twould be as much as my life was worth.

Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.

First, whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his creed. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbors, and where they separate, depend upon it, 'Tis for no other cause but quietness sake.

Our passion and principals are constantly in a frenzy, but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.

So long as a man rides his hobbyhorse peaceably and quietly along the King's highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him - pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?

The history of a soldier's wound beguiles the pain of it.

There are worse occupations in this world than feeling a woman's pulse.

We lose the right of complaining sometimes, by denying something, but this often triples its force.

What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within the span of his little life by him who interests his heart in everything.

Respect for ourselves guides our morals; respect for others guides our manners

I begin with writing the first sentence—and trusting to Almighty God for the second.

Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything.

Human nature is the same in all professions.

Shall we for ever make new books, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another?

Keyholes are the occasions of more sin and wickedness, than all other holes in this world put together.

We don't love people so much for the good they have done us, as for the good we have done them

I have a strong propensity in me to begin this chapter very nonsensically, and I will not balk my fancy.--Accordingly I set off thus:

I have undertaken, you see, to write not only my life, but my opinions also; hoping and expecting that your knowledge of my character, and of what kind of a mortal I am, by the one, would give you a better relish for the other: As you proceed further with me, the slight acquaintance which is now beginning betwixt us, will grow into familiarity; and that, unless one of us is in fault, will terminate in friendship.

Digressions, incontestably, are the sunshine, the life, the soul of reading! Take them out and one cold eternal winter would reign in every page. Restore them to the writer - he steps forth like a bridegroom, bids them all-hail, brings in variety and forbids the appetite to fail.

Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.

What a large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life by him who interests himself in everything.

Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.