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Let those who would affect singularity with success first determine to be very virtuous, and they will be sure to be very singular.

Charles Caleb Colton

The more gross the fraud the more glibly will it go down, and the more greedily be swallowed, since folly will always find faith where impostors will find imprudence.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Faith Fraud Greedy Imposter Prudent Swallow
We know the effects of many things, but the cause of few; experience, therefore, is a surer guide than imagination, and inquiry than conjecture.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Effect Experience Guide Imagination
Diffidence is the better part of knowledge.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Better Knowledge
Happiness, that grand mistress of the ceremonies in the dance of life, impels us through all its mazes and meanderings, but leads none of us by the same route.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Dance Grand Happiness Life Mistress Route
Pain may be said to follow pleasure as its shadow; but the misfortune is that in this particular case, the substance belongs to the shadow, the emptiness to its cause.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Case Empty Follow Misfortune Pain Shadow Substance
It is the briefest yet wisest maxim which tells us to meddle not.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Brief Ourselves Wisdom
Total freedom from error is what none of us will allow to our neighbors; however we may be inclined to flirt a little with such spotless perfection ourselves.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Allow Error Flirt Freedom Ourselves Perfection
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.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Admit Justice Moments Myself Reading
Cruel men are the greatest lovers of Mercy, avaricious men of generosity, and proud men of humility; that is to say, in other, not in themselves.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Cruelty Generosity Greatness Humility Lover
Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Away Man Production Throw Time
Constant success shows us but one side of the world; adversity brings out the reverse of the picture.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Adversity Photograph Reverse Success World
Unlike the sun, intellectual luminaries shine brightest after they set.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Bright Intellectual Shine Sun
Imitation is the sincerest of flattery.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Flattery Imitation One Liner Sincere
He that has energy enough to root out a vice should go further, and try to plant a virtue in its place.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Energy Enough Place Plant Virtue
The man of pleasure, by a vain attempt to be more happy than any man can be, is often more miserable than most men are.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Happiness Man Misery Pleasure
None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Fond Safety Secret
To cure us of our immoderate love of gain, we should seriously consider how many goods there are that money will not purchase, and these the best; and how many evils there are that money will not remedy, and these the worst.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Cure Goodness Immoderate Remedy Willing Worst
The awkwardness and embarrassment which all feel on beginning to write, when they themselves are the theme, ought to serve as a hint to author’s that self is a subject they ought very rarely to descant upon.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Awkward Beginning Embarrassment Subject Theme Writing
God will excuse our prayers for ourselves whenever we are prevented from them by being occupied in such good works as to entitle us to the prayers of others.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

God Goodness Prayer Prevent Work
We should not be too niggardly in our praise, for men will do more to support a character than to raise one.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Man Oneself Praise Raise Support
Pedantry prides herself on being wrong by rules; while common sense is contented to be right without them.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Pride Right Rule Satisfaction Wrong
The rich are more envied by those who have a little, than by those who have nothing.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Amount Jealous Rich
Honor is the most capricious in her rewards. She feeds us with air, and often pulls down our house, to build our monument.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Build Food Home Honor Monument Ourselves Pull Reward
To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had rather meet their bitterest enemy in the field, than their own hearts in their closet.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Bitter Dare Enemy Live Rare
The mistakes of the fool are known to the world, but not to himself. The mistakes of the wise man are known to himself, but not to the world.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Fools Himself Known Man Mistake World
Doubt is the vestibule through which all must pass before they can enter into the temple of wisdom.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Doubt Pass Temple Wisdom
Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Earn Enjoyment Liberty People Raise

Let those who would affect singularity with success first determine to be very virtuous, and they will be sure to be very singular.

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Let those who would affect singularity with success first determine to be very virtuous, and they will be sure to be very singular.

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Popular Authors

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