Henry Fielding

“He that can heroically endure adversity will bear prosperity with equal greatness of soul; for the mind that cannot be dejected by the former is not likely to be transported with the later.”

“Nobody scarce doth any good, yet they all agree in praising those who do. Indeed, it is strange that all men should consent in commending goodness, and no man endeavour to deserve that commendation; whilst, on the contrary, all rail at wickedness, and all are as eager to be what they abuse.”

“There is an insolence which none but those who themselves deserve contempt can bestow, and those only who deserve no contempt can bear.”

“...but doth not the person who expends vast sums in the furniture of his house or the ornaments of his person, who consumes much time and employs great pains in dressing himself, or who thinks himself paid for self-denial, labour, or even villany, by a title or a ribbon, sacrifice as much to vanity as the poor wit who is desirous to read you his poem or his play?”

“A truly elegant taste is generally accompanied with excellency of heart.”

“There is not in the universe a more ridiculous, nor a more contemptible animal, than a proud clergyman.”

“It is not enough that your designs, nay that your actions, are intrinsically good, you must take care they shall appear so.”

“Commend a fool for his wit, or a rogue for his honesty and he will receive you into his favor.”

“For I hope my Friends will pardon me, when I declare, I know none of them without a Fault; and I should be sorry if I could imagine, I had any Friend who could not see mine. Forgiveness, of this Kind, we give and demand in Turn.”

“When widows exclaim loudly against second marriages, I would always lay a wager than the man, If not the wedding day, is absolutely fixed on.”