Thomas Fuller Quotes

3072. Thou may'st extract an Antidote out of a Viper, and Good out of an Enemy. An Enemy will tell thee more truly of thy Imperfections, than the best of Friends will adventure to do, or ourselves (being partial to ourselves)will be able to discern : And this may be apply'd as precious Balm, to heal the Wounds our Folly, or Oversight have given our Reputation, by guarding our Actions for the future. And this is far better, than to be flattered into Pride, and Carelessness.

3064. Be not always hot, and hasty in managing thy Affairs. Prudent Pauses forward Business : There is sometimes more Skill shewed by a Physician in not Prescribing, than in Prescribing. And there is no better Remedy for some Diseases, than to let them alone : for unseasonable meddling with them, may hinder their proceeding to a Crisis, and at long Run they will mend of themselves.

3036. As he that doth not eat when he should, may have no Stomach when he is weak, but presently vomits up his Food again ; so if thou studiest not the Art of Patience, and preparest not thy mind before-hand, and takest not in Grounds of Consolation, till thou art in Troubles, and hast need of great Comfort, thou wilt find thy Soul very impatient of Remedies, and 'twill be irksome to thee but even to read such Things as should quiet thee.

2986. See that thou be alway a doing of something, and be ever ashamed to catch thyself idle : The idle man is content to anticipate Death, by being out of Motion ; but high Souls, like the Heaven they come from, move continually, and are uncapable of Rest, until they rest there.

2915. Suffer a Friend to reprove thee, and thank him heartily for it : 'Tis a Happiness for a Man that he can be reproved when he does amiss, and be recalled when he runs wrong. Princes are deprived of that Benefit : for they converse familiarly but with very few Persons, and those make it their only Business to humour them.

2858. By Trifles and unheeded common Things of Life, thou may'st discover Mens Qualities, Tempers, and Inclinations, better than by their greater Actions : Because in Matters of Importance they strain themselves, but in lesser Things they heedlessly follow the Current of their own Natures.

2826. Provoke not even a patient Man too far ; extreme Sufferance when it comes to dissolve, breaks out into the most severe Revenge ; for taking Fire at last, Anger and Fury being combined into one, discharge their utmost Force at the first Blast. Irarumque omnes effundit habenas.

2763. Avoid Men that are Hot and Quarrelsome ; they will affront thee for nothing, and urge Things beyond Reason and Measure. They will bring thee into Troubles, which thou wilt not easily get out of. Keeping Company with such is living with Wolves, Bears, and Tygers.

2762. In Matters of Slander, thou oughtest to suspend thy Judgment, and examine the Thing ; and not, as the common Custom is, persuade thyself, that common Report is sufficient warrant for the Truth of the Matters. Popular Opinion is the greatest Lie in the World.

2742. Shew not thyself joyful and pleased at the Misfortunes of any Man, tho' thou hatest him ; It argues a mischevious Mind, and that thou hadst a Desire to have done it thyself, if thou hadst had Power or Opportunity to thy Will.

2732. Thou knowest not thy own Strength for want of trying it, and upon that Account thinkest thyself really unable to do many Things which Experience would convince thee, thou hast more Ability to effect, than thou hast Will to attempt.

2683. Have a Care of him that is slow to anger, for like as green Wood which is long in kindling, continueth hot longer than the dry, if it have once taken Fire : So that Man, who is not easily moved is more hard to be pacify'd, than he that is quickly provoked.

2609. Never think that the Things thou wantest will cure thee of thy Discontents ; for they will enlarge thy Desires, and make the Wounds wider. The Way to think we have enough, is not to desire to have too much.

2597. Keep thy Judgment to thyself. Why should others know what thou art? or paraphrase upon thy Opinion? Herein thou hast the Advantage of changing thy Mind when thou art mistaken, and yet continue ( for ought others know ) in the same Mind.

2593. A prudent and discreet Silence will be sometimes more to thy Advantage, than the most witty expression, or even the best contrived Sincerity. A Man often repents that he has spoken, but seldom that he has held his Tongue.