Charles Caleb Colton

“The society of dead authors has this advantage over that of the living: they never flatter us to our faces, nor slander us behind our backs, nor intrude upon our privacy, nor quit their shelves until we take them down.”

“Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen. Like friends, too, we should return to them again and again for, like true friends, they will never fail us - never cease to instruct - never cloy.”

“It is always safe to learn, even from our enemies; seldom safe to venture to instruct, even our friends.”

“Justice to my readers compels me to admit that I write because I have nothing to do; justice to myself induces me to add that I will cease to write the moment I have nothing to say.”

“Patience is the support of weakness; impatience the ruin of strength.”

“Men's arguments often prove nothing but their wishes.”

“If you would be known, and not know, vegetate in a village; if you would know, and not be known, live in a city.”

“We often pretend to fear what we really despise, and more often despise what we really fear.”

“Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness when bequeathed by those who, even alive, would part with nothing.”

“most men know what they hate few what they love”

“He that has energy enough to root out a vice should go further, and try to plant a virtue in its place.”

“Suicide sometimes proceeds from cowardice, but not always; for cowardice sometimes prevents it; since as many live because they are afraid to die, as die because they are afraid to live.”

“The consequences of things are not always proportionate to the apparent magnitude of those events that have produced them. Thus the American Revolution, from which little was expected, produced much; but the French Revolution, from which much was expected, produced little.”

“Doubt is the vestibule through which all must pass before they can enter into the temple of wisdom.”

“Did universal charity prevail, earth would be a heaven, and hell a fable.”

“Those who visit foreign nations, but associate only with their own country-men, change their climate, but not their customs. They see new meridians, but the same men; and with heads as empty as their pockets, return home with traveled bodies, but untravelled minds.”

“The first requisite for success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.”

“Silence is foolish if we are wise, but wise if we are foolish.”

“Marriage is a feast where the grace is sometimes better than the dinner.”

“If you cannot inspire a woman with love of you, fill her above the brim with love of herself; all that runs over will be yours.”