98 quotes
I honestly beleave it iz better tew know nothing than two know what ain't so.
Men are often praised for their sagacity, but all the foresight in the world can't tell a double-yoked egg until it is broken.
There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.
As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.
Affurisms. From Josh Billings: His Sayings (1865)
Men of genius are scarce, but men of genius who use their genius for the benefit of the world are scarcer.
What the world wants iz good examples, not so mutch advice; advice may be wrong, but examples prove themselves.
The Complete Works of Josh Billings (1842)
Most people when they cum tew yu for advice cum tew hav their own opinyuns strengthened, not correkted.
Genius seems to be the fakulty ov doing a thing excellently well, that nobody supposed could be done at all.
Genius learns from nature; talent from books.
Don't mistake vivacity for wit, thare iz about az mutch difference az thare iz between lightning and a lightning bug.
Tew bring up a child in the wa he should go—travel that wa yourself.
Genius after all ain't ennything more than elegant kommon sense.
There iz this difference between genius and common sense in a fox: Common sense iz governed bi circumstances, but circumstances iz governed by genius.
Tallent must hav memory, genius don't require it.
As in a game ov cards, so in the game ov life, we must play what is dealt tew us, and the glory consists, not so mutch in winning, as in playing a poor hand well.
One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness.
Lifetime Speaker's Encyclopedia (1962)
What the world wants iz [sic] good examples, not so mutch advice; advice may be wrong, but examples prove themselves.
The Complete Works of Josh Billings (1842)
The wealth ov a person should be estimated, not bi the amount he haz, but bi the use he makes ov it.
Josh Billings: His Works, Complete (1873)
Every man should kno sumthing ov law--if he knows enuff tew keep out ov it, he iz a prety good lawyer.
Josh Billings: His Works, Complete (1873)
The lion and the lamb may, possibly, sumtime lay down in this world together for a fu minnits, but when the lion kums tew git up, the lamb will be missing.
Affurisms: Slips of the Pen The Complete Works of Josh Billings (1876)