Nothing is difficult; it is only we who are indolent.
BENJAMIN HAYDONNothing is difficult; it is only we who are indolent.
BENJAMIN HAYDONOne of the surest evidences of an elevated taste is the power of enjoying works of impassioned terrorism, in poetry, and painting. The man who can look at impassioned subjects of terror with a feeling of exultation may be certain he has an elevated taste.
BENJAMIN HAYDONThere must be more malice than love in the hearts of all wits.
BENJAMIN HAYDONMen of genius are often considered superstitious, but the fact is, the fineness of their nerve renders them more alive to the supernatural than ordinary men.
BENJAMIN HAYDONGenius is nothing more than common faculties refined to a greater intensity. There are no astonishing ways of doing astonishing things. All astonishing things are done by ordinary materials.
BENJAMIN HAYDONIt is highly convenient to believe in the infinite mercy of God when you feel the need of mercy, but remember also his infinite justice.
BENJAMIN HAYDONBeware of the beginnings of vice. Do not delude yourself with the belief that it can be argued against in the presence of the exciting cause. Nothing but actual flight can save you.
BENJAMIN HAYDONNo man, perhaps, is so wicked as to commit evil for its own sake. Evil is generally committed under the hope of some advantage the pursuit of virtue seldom obtains. Yet the most successful result of the most virtuous heroism is never without its alloy.
BENJAMIN HAYDONThe only legitimate artists in England are the architects.
BENJAMIN HAYDONIf men would only take the chances of doing right because it is right, instead of the immediate certainty of the advantage of doing wrong, how much happier would their lives be.
BENJAMIN HAYDONHow difficult it is to get men to believe that any other man can or does act from disinterestedness!
BENJAMIN HAYDONSatan is to be punished eternally in the end, but for a while he triumphs.
BENJAMIN HAYDONWhen a man is no longer anxious to do better than well, he is done for.
BENJAMIN HAYDONTo procrastinate seems inherent in man, for if you do to-day that you may enjoy to-morrow it is but deferring the enjoyment; so that to be idle or industrious, vicious or virtuous, is but with a view of procrastinating the one or the other.
BENJAMIN HAYDONNever suffer youth to be an excuse for inadequacy, nor age and fame to be an excuse for indolence.
BENJAMIN HAYDONThere surely is in human nature an inherent propensity to extract all the good out of all the evil.
BENJAMIN HAYDON