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The only way therefore to try a Piece of Wit, is to translate it into a different Language: If it bears the Test you may pronounceit true; but if it vanishes in the Experiment you may conclude it to have been a Punn.

Joseph Addison

It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Complain Excellence Imperfect Inspiring Perfect
The friendships of the world are oft confederacies in vice, or leagues of pleasures.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Confederacy Friendship League Pleasure Vice
Evil may at some future period bring forth good; and good may bring forth evil, both equally unexpected.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Bring Equally Evil Forth Good May Some Unexpected
The most skillful flattery is to let a person talk on, and be a listener.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Flattery Listener Person Skillful
Women were formed to temper Mankind, and sooth them into Tenderness and Compassion; not to set an Edge upon their Minds, and blowup in them those Passions which are too apt to rise of their own Accord.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Blow Compassion Edge Form Mind Passion Temper Tenderness Women
I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Astonishment Competition Debate FAction Mankind Reflect Sorrow
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
Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition, but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Affection Birthday Daughter Day Family Father Love Mother Son Wives
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
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
What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Along Flower Friendship Inspirational Life Pathway Scarred Smile Sunshine Sure
In private conversation between intimate friends, the wisest men very often talk like the weakest : for indeed the talking with a friend is nothing else but thinking aloud.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Conversation Friend Men Often Private Talk Thinking Weakest Wise
Music, the greatest good that mortals know and all of heaven we have hear below.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Below Good Greatest Heaven Mortal Music Wisdom
There is not any present moment that is unconnected with some future one. The life of every man is a continued chain of incidents, each link of which hangs upon the former.
JOSEPH ADDISON

Evil Future Men Moment Present Secret
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
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 only way therefore to try a Piece of Wit, is to translate it into a different Language: If it bears the Test you may pronounceit true; but if it vanishes in the Experiment you may conclude it to have been a Punn.

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The only way therefore to try a Piece of Wit, is to translate it into a different Language: If it bears the Test you may pronounceit true; but if it vanishes in the Experiment you may conclude it to have been a Punn.

Related Topics

Popular Authors

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