Laurence Sterne Quotes

That grave people hate love for the name’s sake;—
That selfish people hate it for their own;—
Hypocrites for heaven’s;—

I think I can see the precise and distinguishing marks of national characters more in these nonsensical minutiæ than in the most important matters of state; where great men of all nations talk and stalk so much alike, that I would not give ninepence to choose amongst them.

I like subordination, quoth my uncle Toby...

Our armies swore terribly in Flanders, cried my uncle Toby, — but nothing to this. — For my own part, I could not have a heart to curse my dog so.

Button-holes! there is something lively in the very idea of 'em - and trust me, when I get amongst 'em - you gentry with great beards - look as grave as you will - I'll make merry work with my button-holes - I shall have 'em all to myself - 'tis a maiden subject - I shall run foul of no man's wisdom or fine sayings in it.

İşte senin yanlışın da burada, diye karşılık verirdi babam - çünkü Foro Scientiae (bilim alanı)'de CİNAYET diye bir şey yoktur, yalnızca ÖLÜM vvardır kardeşim.

If ever I do a mean action, it must be in some interval betwixt one passion and another: whilst this interregnum lasts, I always perceive my heart locked up,—I can scarce find in it to give Misery a sixpence; and therefore I always get out of it as fast as I can—and the moment I am rekindled, I am all generosity and good-will again; and would do anything in the world, either for or with any one, if they will but satisfy me there is no sin in it.

The heart, in spite of the understanding, will always say too much.

el trote vivaz y el lento raciocinio eran, como el ingenio y el juicio[44], movimientos incompatibles.

Digressions incontestably are the sunshine; they are the life, the soul of reading.

And what of this new book the whole world makes such a rout about? — Oh ! 'tis out of all plumb, my lord, — quite an irregular thing!

Pain and pleasure, like light and darkness, succeed each other.

Gücüydü, çünkü doğası gereği güzel konuşurdu babam; zaafıydı, çünkü saat başı yeteneğini gösterebilmek için bir bahane arar, ne yapar eder dirayetli ya da zekice, ya da hınzırca bir şeyler söylemeyi başarırdı.
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Babam için dilini bağlayan herhangi bir lütuf ile dilini çözen herhangi bir bela arasında fark yoktu; çünkü mesela çektiği nutuktan duyduğu keyif on ise, başına gelen bela azami beş olmaktaydı-bu yüzden de her zaman en azından yarı yarıya galipti ve sanki bütün bunlar başına hiç gelmemişçesine yoluna devam ederdi.

Sir, the doctor told me, your health is perfectly normal. — On hearing this, I began to rejoice, when the doctor pursued: — Such a condition is exceedingly rare: it is a cause for concern and calls for extreme caution.

The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.