19 quotes
Beauty is no quality in things themselves: It exists merely in the mind which contemplates them; and each mind perceives a different beauty.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
It is a great mortification to the vanity of man, that his utmost art and industry can never equal the meanest of nature's productions, either for beauty or value.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
If nature has been frugal in her gifts and endowments, there is the more need of art to supply her defects.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
A propensity to hope and joy is real riches: One to fear and sorrow, real poverty.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
Art may make a suit of clothes; but nature must produce a man.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
It is seldom, that liberty of any kind is lost all at once.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
The great end of all human industry, is the attainment of happiness. For this were arts invented, sciences cultivated, laws ordained, and societies modelled, by the most profound wisdom of patriots and legislators.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
Every thing in the world is purchased by labour.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
Nothing appears more surprising to those, who consider human affairs with a philosophical eye, than the easiness with which the many are governed by the few; and the implicit submission, with which men resign their own sentiments and passions to those of their rulers.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
In all ages of the world, priests have been enemies to liberty; and it is certain, that this steady conduct of theirs must have been founded on fixed reasons of interest and ambition.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
It is, therefore, a just political maxim, that every man must be supposed a knave: Though at the same time, it appears somewhat strange, that a maxim should be true in politics, which is false in fact.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
But such is the nature of the human mind, that it always lays hold on every mind that approaches it; and as it is wonderfully fortified by an unanimity of sentiments, so is it shocked and disturbed by any contrariety.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
In a word, human life is more governed by fortune than by reason; is to be regarded more as a dull pastime than as a serious occupation; and is more influenced by particular humour, than by general principles.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
The richest genius, like the most fertile soil, when uncultivated, shoots up into the rankest weeds; and instead of vines and olives for the pleasure and use of man, produces, to its slothful owner, the most abundant crop of poisons.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
People who invented the word charity, and used it in a good sense, inculcated more clearly, and much more efficaciously, the precept, Be charitable, than any pretended legislator or prophet, who should insert such a maxim in his writings.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
Avarice, the spur of industry, is so obstinate a passion, and works its way through so many real dangers and difficulties, that it is not likely to be scared by an imaginary danger, which is so small, that it scarcely admits of calculation.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny ; flattery to treachery ; standing armies to arbitrary government ; and the glory of God to the temporal interest of the clergy.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
All sentiment is right; because sentiment has a reference to nothing beyond itself, and is always real, wherever a man is conscious of it. But all determinations of the understanding are not right; because they have a reference to something beyond themselves, to wit, real matter of fact; and are not always conformable to that standard.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)
The slaving Poor are incapable of any Principles: Gentlemen may be converted to true Principles, by Time and Experience. The middling Rank of Men have Curiosity and Knowledge enough to form Principles, but not enough to form true ones, or correct any Prejudices that they may have imbib'd: And 'tis among the middling Rank, that Tory Principles do at present prevail most in England.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary (1741)