Joseph Addison Quotes

A man that has a taste of music, painting, or architecture, is like one that has another sense, when compared with such as have no relish of those arts.

There is not a more unhappy being than a superannuated idol.

In all thy humours, whether grave or mellow, Thou 'rt such a touchy, testy, pleasant fellow, Hast so much wit and mirth and spleen about thee, There is no living with thee, nor without thee.

It is indeed very possible, that the Persons we laugh at may in the main of their Characters be much wiser Men than our selves; but if they would have us laugh at them, they must fall short of us in those Respects which stir up this Passion.

The Fear of Death often proves Mortal, and sets People on Methods to save their Lives, which infallibly destroy them.

That nothing is capable of being well set to Musick, that is not Nonsense.

True happiness is of a retired nature, and an enemy to pomp and noise; it arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one's self, and in the next, from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions.

I shall endeavor to enliven morality with wit, and to temper wit with morality.

I would... earnestly advise them for their good to order this paper to be punctually served up, and to be looked upon as a part of the tea equipage.

Thus I live in the world rather as a spectator of mankind than as one of the species.

If I can any way contribute to the diversion or improvement of the country in which I live, I shall leave it, when I am summoned out of it, with the secret satisfaction of thinking that I have not lived in vain.

Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence, of this virtue.

Charity is a virtue of the heart, and not of the hands.

The sense of honour is of so fine and delicate a nature, that it is only to be met with in minds which are naturally noble, or in such as have been cultivated by good examples, or a refined education.

A good conscience is to the soul what health is to the body; it preserves a constant ease and serenity within us, and more than countervails all the calamities and afflictions which can possibly befall us.