William Shenstone Quotes
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Second thoughts oftentimes are the very worst of all thoughts.
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The most reserved of men, that will not exchange two syllables together in an English coffee-house, should they meet at Ispahan, would drink sherbet and eat a mess of rice together.
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A fool and his words are soon parted.
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The making presents to a lady one addresses is like throwing armor into an enemy's camp, with a resolution to recover it.
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We may daily discover crowds acquire sufficient wealth to buy gentility, but very few that possess the virtues which ennoble human nature, and (in the best sense of the word) constitute a gentleman.
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Love is a pleasing but a various clime.
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Harmony of period and melody of style have greater weight than is generally imagined in the judgment we pass upon writing and writers. As a proof of this, let us reflect what texts of scripture, what lines in poetry, or what periods we most remember and quote, either in verse or prose, and we shall find them to be only musical ones.
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Persons who discover a flatterer, do not always disapprove him, because he imagines them considerable enough to deserve his applications.
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Misers, as death approaches, are heaping up a chest of reasons to stand in more awe of him.
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The eye must be easy, before it can be pleased.
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Independence may be found in comparative as well as in absolute abundance; I mean where a person contracts his desires within the limits of his fortune.
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Oft has good nature been the fool's defence, And honest meaning gilded want of sense.
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Avarice is the most oppose of all characters to that of God Almighty, whose alone it is to give and not receive.
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A man of remarkable genius may afford to pass by a piece of wit, if it happen to border on abuse. A little genius is obliged to catch at every witticism indiscriminately.
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A liar begins with making falsehood appear like truth, and ends with making truth itself appear like falsehood.
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In a heavy oppressive atmosphere, when the spirits sink too low, the best cordial is to read over all the letters of one's friends.
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Virtues, like essences, lose their fragrance when exposed. They are sensitive plants, which will not bear too familiar approaches.
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The weak and insipid white wine makes at length excellent vinegar.
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Health is beauty, and the most perfect health is the most perfect beauty.
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When self-interest inclines a man to print, he should consider that the purchaser expects a pennyworth for his penny, and has reason to asperse his honesty if he finds himself deceived.
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The regard one shows economy, is like that we show an old aunt who is to leave us something at last.
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Men of quality never appear more amiable than when their dress is plain. Their birth, rank, title and its appendages are at best indivious and as they do not need the assistance of dress, so, by their disclaiming the advantage of it, they make their superiority sit more easy.
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My banks they are furnish'd with bees, Whose murmur invites one to sleep.
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Modesty makes large amends for the pain it gives those who labor under it, by the prejudice it affords every worthy person in their favor.
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To thee, fair Freedom! I retire From flattery, cards, and dice, and din: Nor art thou found in mansions higher Than the low cot, or humble inn.
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Poetry and consumption are the most flattering of diseases.
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In designing a house and gardens, it is happy when there is an opportunity of maintaining a subordination of parts; the house so luckily place as to exhibit a view of the whole design. I have sometimes thought that there was room for it to resemble a epic or dramatic poem.
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A miser grows rich by seeming poor. An extravagant man grows poor by seeming rich.
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It is true there is nothing displays a genius, I mean a quickness of genius, more than a dispute; as two diamonds, encountering, contribute to each other's luster. But perhaps the odds is much against the man of taste in this particular.
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Every good poet includes a critic, but the reverse is not true.
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