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We ask advice but we mean approbation.

Charles Caleb Colton

Time is the most undefinable yet paradoxical of things; the past is gone, the future is not come, and the present becomes the past, even while we attempt to define it.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Anand Thakur
Commerce flourishes by circumstances, precarious, transitory, contingent, almost as the winds and waves that bring it to our shores.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Circumstance Commerce Flourish Shore Wave
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
Discretion has been termed the better part of valour, and it is more certain, that diffidence is the better part of knowledge.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Better Certain Knowledge Term
Ignorance is a blank sheet, on which we may write; but error is a scribbled one, on which we must first erase.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Blank Erase Errors Ignorance Writing
If merited, no courage can stand against its just indignation.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Anand Thakur
Strong as our passions are, they may be starved into submission, and conquered without being killed.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Kill Ourselves Passion Strong Submission
There were moments of despondency when Shakespeare thought himself no poet, and Raphael no painter; when the greatest wits have doubted the excellence of their happiest efforts.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Effort Greatness Happiness Moments Paint Thinking
Knowledge is two-fold, and consists not only in an affirmation of what is true, but in the negation of that which is false.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Affirmation Fake Knowledge Negative
There are two principles of established acceptance in morals; first, that self-interest is the mainspring of all of our actions, and secondly, that utility is the test of their value.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Establishment Principle Test Value
Hurry is the mark of a weak mind, dispatch of a strong one.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Hurry Mark Mindset Oneself Strong Weakness
Our admiration of fine writing will always be in proportion to its real difficulty and its apparent ease.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Admire Difficult Fine Writing
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
It is easier to pretend to be what you are not than to hide what you really are; but he that can accomplish both has little to learn in hypocrisy.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Accomplishment Easy Hide Hypocrisy Learning Pretend
The worst thing that can be said of the most powerful is that they can take your life; but the same can be said of the most weak.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Anand Thakur
What would you do if you knew for sure that no one would ever find out?
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Choice Known Willing Yourself
Atheism is a system which can communicate neither warmth nor illumination, except from those fagots which your mistaken zeal has lighted up for its destruction.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Atheist Communication Destruction Light Mistake System Warmth Yourself Zeal
When you have nothing to say, say nothing.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Silence Word Yourself
A high degree of intellectual refinement in the female is the surest pledge society can have for the improvement of the male.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Female Improvement Intellectual Male Pledge
An Irish man fights before he reasons, a Scotchman reasons before he fights, an Englishman is not particular as to the order of precedence, but will do either to accommodate his customers.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Customer Fight Man Reason
The poorest man would not part with health for money, but the richest would gladly part with all their money for health.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Difference Health Man Money Poor Rich
For one man who sincerely pities our misfortunes, there are a thousand who sincerely hate our success.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Hate Man Ourselves Sincere Success
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.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Inspirational Run Woman Yourself
That is fine benevolence, finely executed, which, like the Nile, comes from hidden sources.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Execution Fine Hide Source
Deliberate with caution, but act with decision and yield with graciousness, or oppose with firmness.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Act Decision Deliberate Firm Grace
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
Hope is a prodigal young heir, and experience is his banker.
CHARLES CALEB COLTON

Experience Himself Hope Prodigy Young

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We ask advice but we mean approbation.

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