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There are infinite reveries, numberless extravagances, and a perpetual train of vanities which pass through both.

Joseph Addison

There is nothing that makes its way more directly into the soul than beauty.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Beauty Directly Inspirational More Soul
Words, when well chosen, have so great a force in them, that a description often gives us more lively ideas than the sight of things themselves.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Description Force Give Giving Idea Ideas Lively Sight Themselves
A man should always consider how much he has more than he wants.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Aggravation Always Consider Literature Man
Our disputants put me in mind of the cuttlefish that, when he is unable to extricate himself, blackens the water about him till he becomes invisible.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Become Blacken Cuttlefish Disputant Himself Invisible Mind Unable Water
Man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Creature Distinguish Laughter Men Mirth Other
Men may change their climate, but they cannot change their nature. A man that goes out a fool cannot ride or sail himself into common sense.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Change Fool Funny Inspirational Men Nature Ride
To this end, nothing is to be more carefully consulted than plainness. In a lady’s attire this is the single excellence; for to be what some people call fine, is the same vice, in that case, as to be florid is in writing or speaking.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Attire Consult Excellence People Plainness Writing
Admiration is a very short lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it still be fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a new perpetual succession of miracles rising up to its view.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Admire Discover Familiar Fresh Grow Immediately Life Object Passion Respect Upon
Young men soon give, and soon forget, affronts; old age is slow in both.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Age Birthday Giving Men Old Show Young
The voice of reason is more to be regarded than the bent of any present inclination; since inclination will at length come over to reason, though we can never force reason to comply with inclination.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Bent Come Inclination Length Present Reason Regard Since Voice
A good character, good habits and iron industry are impregnable to the assaults of all ill-luck that fools ever dreamed.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Assault Character Dream Good Habit Impregnable Iron
I consider the vanity of grieving for those whom we must quickly follow: when I see kings lying by those who deposed them, when I consider rival wits placed side by side, or the holy men that divided the world with their contests and disputes.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Consider Deposed Dispute Divide Follow King Quickly
That aids and strengthens virtue where it meets her And imitates her actions where she is not: It is not to be sported with.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Action Aid Imitate Meet Sport Strength
The transition from cause to effect, from event to event, is often carried on by secret steps, which our foresight cannot divine, and our sagacity is unable to trace.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Divine Even Foresight Secret Step Trace Transition Unable
There is no virtue so truly great and godlike as justice.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Godlike Justice Truly Virtue
True benevolence or compassion, extends itself through the whole of existence and sympathizes with the distress of every creature capable of sensation.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Animal Capable Compassion Creature Distress Philanthropy Sympathize
The friendships of the world are oft confederacies in vice, or leagues of pleasures.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Confederacy Friendship League Pleasure Vice
Nothing that isn’t a real crime makes a man appear so contemptible and little in the eyes of the world as inconsistency.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Appear Eye Inconsistency Little Man Real World
No one is more cherished in this world than someone who lightens the burden of another. Thank you.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Another Appreciation Burden Someone Thank You Volunteer World
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
What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the human soul.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Education Inspiring Marble Motivational Scripture
I shall endeavor to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Endeavor Morality Temper Wit
A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Bless Blessed Blessing Enjoy Greatest Men Mind World
When all thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view I’m lost, in wonder, love and praise.
JOSEPH ADDISON

God Lost Mercy Rise Soul Transported View Wonder
Nature in her whole drama never drew such a part; she has sometimes made a fool, but a coxcomb is always of a man’s own making.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Always Coxcomb Drama Fool Make Men Natural Own Sometimes
Rides in the whirlwind and directs the storm.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Editing Editors Storm
Man is subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Honesty Humanity Innumerable Integrity Man Nature Pain Sorrow Subject

There are infinite reveries, numberless extravagances, and a perpetual train of vanities which pass through both.

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There are infinite reveries, numberless extravagances, and a perpetual train of vanities which pass through both.

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