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Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, — though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst, — the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!

— Laurence Sterne The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760)

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Advice

More quotes by Laurence Sterne

Only the brave know how to forgive...A coward never forgave; it is not in his nature.

Every time a man smiles,—but much more so, when he laughs, that it adds something to this Fragment of life.

Trust that man in nothing who has not a conscience in everything.

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman (1760)

Friendship is the balm and cordial of life, and without it, ’tis a heavy load not worth sustaining.

I pity the man who can travel from Dan to Beersheba and cry, 'Tis all barren!

A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy (1768)

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A man must serve his time to every trade
Save censure — critics are ready-made.

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The physician can bury his mistakes, but the architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Parodies and caricatures are the most penetrating of criticisms.

Aldous Huxley Point Counter Point (1928)

Let no man value at a little price
A virtuous woman's counsel; her wing'd spirit
Is feather'd oftentimes with heavenly words.

George Chapman The Gentleman Usher (1606)

Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Laurence Sterne (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.