I Have often thought if the minds of men were laid open, we should see but little difference between that of the wise man and that of the fool.
JOSEPH ADDISONReading 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.
More Joseph Addison Quotes
-
-
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 -
When a woman comes to her class, she does not employ her time in making herself look more advantageously what she really is, but endeavours to be as much another creature as she possibly can.
JOSEPH ADDISON -
According to this definition there is nothing so contradictory to his nature as error and falsehood.
JOSEPH ADDISON -
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 -
A true critic ought to dwell rather upon excellencies than imperfections
JOSEPH ADDISON -
A solid and substantial greatness of soul looks down with neglect on the censures and applauses of the multitude.
JOSEPH ADDISON -
The most skillful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a listener.
JOSEPH ADDISON -
Jealousy is that pain which a man feels from the apprehension that he is not equally beloved by the person whom he entirely loves.
JOSEPH ADDISON -
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 -
A person may be qualified to do greater good to mankind and become more beneficial to the world, by morality without faith than by faith without morality.
JOSEPH ADDISON -
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 -
I shall endeavor to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality.
JOSEPH ADDISON -
There is not a more pleasing exercise of the mind than gratitude. It is accompanied with such an inward satisfaction that the duty is sufficiently rewarded by the performance
JOSEPH ADDISON -
Love, anger, pride and avarice all visibly move in those little orbs.
JOSEPH ADDISON -
There are many more shining qualities in the mind of man, but there is none so useful as discretion.
JOSEPH ADDISON






