William Hazlitt Quotes

1778–1830 England

William Hazlitt (10 April 1778 – 18 September 1830) was an English writer remembered for his humanistic essays and literary criticism. He is sometimes esteemed the greatest English literary critic after Samuel Johnson.

England
Essayists
Painters
Philosophers

Also known as: Hazlitt, William

Random William Hazlitt quote

139 quotes

We never do anything well till we cease to think about the manner of doing it.

Men and Manners: Sketches and Essays (1852)

The way to procure insults is to submit to them. A man meets with no more respect than he exacts.

Characteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucauld's Maxims (1823)

Men of genius do not excel in any profession because they labour in it, but they labour in it because they excel.

Characteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucauld's Maxims (1823)

Again, there is a heroism in crime as well as in virtue. Vice and infamy have also their altars and their religion.

Men and Manners: Sketches and Essays (1852)

The truly proud man knows neither superiors nor inferiors. The first he does not admit of: the last he does not concern himself about.

Characteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucauld's Maxims (1823)

Few things tend more to alienate friendship than a want of punctuality in our engagements. I have known the breach of a promise to dine or sup to break up more than one intimacy.

The Plain Speaker (1826)

To be remembered after we are dead, is but a poor recompense for being treated with contempt while we are living.

Characteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucauld's Maxims (1823)

Indeed some degree of affectation is as necessary to the mind as dress is to the body; we must overact our part in some measure, in order to produce any effect at all.

Men and Manners: Sketches and Essays (1852)

Perhaps propriety is as near a word as any to denote the manners of the gentleman: elegance is necessary to the fine gentleman; dignity is proper to noblemen; and majesty to kings!

The only vice which cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.

Characteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucauld's Maxims (1823)

There is a feeling of Eternity in youth which makes us amends for everything. To be young is to be as one of the Immortals.

One said he wondered that leather was not dearer than any other thing. Being demanded a reason: because, saith he, it is more stood upon than any other thing in the world.

To get others to come into our ways of thinking, we must go over to theirs; and it is necessary to follow, in order to lead.

Winterslow: Essays and Characters (1850)

If I have not read a book before, it is, to all intents and purposes, new to me, whether it was printed yesterday or three hundred years ago.

Men and Manners: Sketches and Essays (1852)

To give a reason for anything is to breed a doubt of it…

The Plain Speaker (1826)

The world judge of men by their ability in their profession, and we judge of ourselves by the same test; for it is on that on which our success in life depends.

Characteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucauld's Maxims (1823)

Gallantry to women (the sure road to their favor) is nothing but the appearance of extreme devotion to all their wants and wishes, a delight in their satisfaction, and a confidence in yourself as being able to contribute toward it.

Men and Manners: Sketches and Essays (1852)

He talked on for ever; and you wished him to talk on for ever.

Lectures on the English Poets (1818)

One commending a Tayler for his dexteritie in his profession, another standing by ratified his opinion, saying tailors had their business at their fingers' ends.

Good temper is an estate for life…

The Plain Speaker (1826)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: William Hazlitt (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.