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Our delight in any particular study, art, or science rises and improves in proportion to the application which we bestow upon it. Thus, what was at first an exercise becomes at length an entertainment.

Joseph Addison

There are many more shining qualities in the mind of man, but there is none so useful as discretion.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Discretion Man Mind Quality Shining Useful
A solid and substantial greatness of soul looks down with neglect on the censures and applauses of the multitude.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Applause Down Greatness Look Multitude Neglect Soul
A man who has any relish for fine writing either discovers new beauties or receives stronger impressions from the masterly strokes of a great author every time he peruses him; besides that he naturally wears himself into the same manner of speaking and thinking.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Beauty Discover Impression Mastery Men Reading Stroke Stronger Writing
If we hope for what we are not likely to possess, we act and think in vain, and make life a greater dream and shadow than it really is.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Act Create Dream Hope Life Possess Really Shadow
The great difference is, that the first knows how to pick and cull his thoughts for conversation, by suppressing some, and communicating others; whereas the other lets them all indifferently fly out in words.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Difference First Great Know Out Pick Suppress Word Thought
There is nothing that makes its way more directly into the soul than beauty.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Beauty Directly Inspirational More Soul
This not in mortals to command success, but we’ll do more, Sempronius, we’ll deserve it.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Command Deserve Merit Sempronius Success
Reading is to the mind, what exercise is to the body. As by the one, health is preserved, strengthened, and invigorated: by the other, virtue (which is the health of the mind) is kept alive, cherished, and confirmed.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Book Exercise Mind Read Reading Strengthened
Wit is the fetching of congruity out of incongruity.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Fetch Incongruity Out Wit
If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Bosom Brother Counselor Elder Experience Inspirational Life Make Relevance Success
The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Discover Enjoy Friend Friendship Highest Real Secret
Hung it on each side with curious organs of sense, given it airs and graces that cannot be described, and surrounded it with such a flowing shade of hair as sets all its beauties in the most agreeable light.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Agreeable Describe Each Follow Give Grace Light Organ Set Side Surround
Knowledge is, indeed, that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above another.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Above Another Essential Knowledge Man Men Next Raise
When I read the epitaphs of the beautiful, every inordinate desire goes out; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone, my heart melts with compassion; when I see the tomb of the parents themselves,
JOSEPH ADDISON

Beautiful Epitaph Grief Hear Incardinate King Meet Parent Tombstone Upon
He who would pass his declining years with honor and comfort, should, when young, consider that he may one day become old, and remember when he is old, that he has once been young.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Comfort Consider Honor Old Remember Time Years Young
Their is no defense against criticism except obscurity.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Against Criticism Defense Except Funny Humor Obscurity

Our delight in any particular study, art, or science rises and improves in proportion to the application which we bestow upon it. Thus, what was at first an exercise becomes at length an entertainment.

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Our delight in any particular study, art, or science rises and improves in proportion to the application which we bestow upon it. Thus, what was at first an exercise becomes at length an entertainment.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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