10 quotes
It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)
God calls all the passions out in their keenness and vigour, for the present safety of mankind.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)
Bishop Berkeley destroyed this world in one volume octavo; and nothing remained after his time, but mind — which experienced a similar fate from the hand of Mr. Hume, in 1737.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)
Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising where praise is not due.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)
Have the courage to be ignorant of a great number of things, in order to avoid the calamity of being ignorant of everything.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)
All great and extraordinary actions come from the heart. There are seasons in human affairs, when qualities fit enough to conduct the common business of life, are feeble and useless; and when men must trust to emotion, for that safety which reason at such times can never give.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)
A great deal of talent is lost to the world for the want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves a number of obscure men who have only remained obscure because their timidity has prevented them from making a first effort.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)
The fact is that in order to do any thing in this world worth doing, we must not stand shivering on the bank thinking of the cold and the danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)
It is a very wise rule in the conduct of the understanding, to acquire early a correct notion of your own peculiar constitution of mind, and to become well acquainted, as a physician would say, with your idiosyncrasy.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)
The truth is, that most men want knowledge, not for itself, but for the superiority which knowledge confers; and the means they employ to secure this superiority, are as wrong as the ultimate object, for no man can ever end with being superior, who will not begin with being inferior.
Elementary Sketches of Moral Philosophy (1849)