69 quotes
I never drink. I cannot do it, on equal terms with others. It costs them only one day; but me three,—the first in sinning, the second in suffering, and the third in repenting.
I have got him fast hung up, quoth Didius to himself, upon one of the two horns of my dilemma — let him get off as he can.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760)
The best hearts are ever the bravest.
Tant pis and tant mieux, being two of the great hinges in French conversation, a stranger would do well to set himself right in the use of them before he gets to Paris.
A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768)
This sad vicissitude of things.
I shall not die but live — in the mean time dear F. let us live as merrily but as innocently as we can. — It has ever been as good, if not better, than a bishoprick to me — and I desire no other.
That grave people hate love for the name’s sake;—
That selfish people hate it for their own;—
Hypocrites for heaven’s;—
A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768)
There is one sweet lenitive at least for evils, which Nature holds out to us: so I took it kindly at her hands, and fell asleep.
A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768)
The Accusing Spirit which flew up to heaven's chancery with the oath, blush'd as he gave it in; and the Recording Angel as he wrote it down, dropp'd a tear upon the word, and blotted it out forever.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760)
Our armies swore terribly in Flanders.
Solitude is the best nurse of wisdom.
We get forwards in the world not so much by doing services, as receiving them: you take a withering twig, and put it in the ground; and then you water it, because you have planted it.
A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768)
We must bring three parts in four of the treat along with us — In short we must be happy within — and then few things without us make much difference — This is my Shandean philosophy.
Persuasion hung upon his lips, and the elements of Logick and Rhetorick were so blended up in him, — and, withall, he had so shrewd guess at the weaknesses and passions of his respondent, — that NATURE might have stood up and said, — "This man is eloquent."
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760)
L—d! said my mother, what is all this story about? — A Cock and a Bull, said Yorick — And one of the best of its kind I ever heard.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760)
I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760)
The brave only know how to forgive.
Now or never was the time.
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760)
So long as a man rides his hobbyhorse peaceably and quietly along the King's highway, and neither compels you or me to get up behind him — pray, Sir, what have either you or I to do with it?
The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760)
"He shall not die, by God," cried my uncle Toby. The Accusing Spirit which flew up to heaven's chancery with the oath, blushed as he gave it in: and the Recording Angel as he wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the word and blotted it out forever.