40 quotes
Love your fellow creature, though vicious. Hate vice in the friend you love the most.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
If you mean to make your side of the argument appear plausible, do not prejudice the people against what you think truth by your passionate manner of defending it.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
Wit without humanity degenerates into bitterness. Learning without prudence into pedantry.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
If a favour is asked of you, grant it if you can. If not, refuse it in such a manner as that one denial may be sufficient.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
There is no occasion to trample upon the meanest reptile, nor to sneak to the greatest prince. Insolence and baseness are equally unmanly.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
Be careful of your word, even in keeping the most trifling appointment. But do not blame another for a failure of that kind till you have heard his excuse.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
There is an affected humility more unsufferable than downright pride, as hypocrisy is more abominable than libertimsm. Take care that your virtues be genuine and unsophisticated.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
There is hardly any bodily blemish which a winning behaviour will not conceal, or make tolerable; and there is no external grace which ill-nature or affectation will not deform.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
Good humour is the only shield to keep off the darts of the satirical railer: if you have a quiver well stored, and are sure of hitting him between the joints of the harness, do not spare him; but you had better not bend your bow than miss your aim.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
Deep learning will make you acceptable to the learned; but it is only an obliging and easy behaviour, and entertaining conversation, that will make you agreeable to all companies.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
In disputes upon moral or scientific points, ever let your aim be to come at truth, not to conquer your opponent: so you never shall be at a loss in losing the argument, and gaining a new discovery.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
If you give a jest, take one.
Let all your jokes be truly jokes. Jesting sometimes ends in sad earnest.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
Too much company is worse than none.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
If you would have a right to account of things from illiterate people, let them tell their story in their own way; if you put them upon talking according to logical rules, you will confound them.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
In mixed company, be readier to hear than to speak, and put people upon talking of what is in their own way; for then you will both oblige them, and be most likely to improve by their conversation.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
Do not endeavour to shine in all companies. Leave room for your hearers to imagine something within you beyond all you have said. And remember, the more you are praised, the more you will be envied.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
Fools pretend to foretell what will be the issue of things, and are laughed at for their awkward conjectures. Wise men being aware of the uncertainty of human aflairs, and having observed how small a matter often produces a great change, are modest in their conjectures.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
If you want to gain any man's good opinion, take particular care how you behave the first time you are in company with him; the light you appear in at first, to one who is neither inclinable to think well nor ill of you, will strongly prejudice him either for or against you.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
Do not sit dumb in company; it will be ascribed either to pride, cunning, or stupidity: give your opinion modestly, but freely; hear that of others with candour; and ever endeavour to find out, and to communicate truth.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)
Men repent speaking ten times, for once that they repent keeping silence.
It is an advantage to have concealed one's opinion; for by that means you may change your judgment of things (which every wise man fmds reason to do) and not be accused of fickleness.
The Dignity of Human Nature (1754)