Joseph Addison Quotes | GloryQuotes

Joseph Addison Quotes About Nature

Mutability of temper and inconsistency with ourselves is the greatest weakness of human nature.

To be perfectly just is an attribute of the divine nature; to be so to the utmost of our abilities, is the glory of man.

Men may change their climate, but they cannot change their nature. A man that goes out a fool cannot ride or sail himself into common sense.

The chief ingredients in the composition of those qualities that gain esteem and praise, are good nature, truth, good sense, and good breeding.

There is not so variable a thing in nature as a lady's head-dress.

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.

Man is subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another.

The stars shall fade away, the sun himself Grow dim with age, and nature sink in years, But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth, Unhurt amidst the wars of elements, The wrecks of matter, and the crush of worlds.

Joseph Addison Quotes About Life

One should take good care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life as laughter.

If we hope for what we are not likely to possess, we act and think in vain, and make life a greater dream and shadow than it really is.

The important question is not, what will yield to man a few scattered pleasures, but what will render his life happy on the whole amount.

The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.

Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.

The union of the Word and the Mind produces that mystery which is called Life... Learn deeply of the Mind and its mystery, for therein lies the secret of immortality.

More Quotes by Joseph Addison

Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.

Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.

A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.

There is nothing that makes its way more directly into the soul than beauty.

A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.

Young men soon give, and soon forget, affronts; old age is slow in both.

Nothing is more gratifying to the mind of man than power or dominion.

The fear of death often proves mortal, and sets people on methods to save their Lives, which infallibly destroy them.

What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul.

Those Marriages generally abound most with Love and Constancy, that are preceded by a long Courtship.

To a man of pleasure every moment appears to be lost, which partakes not of the vivacity of amusement.

The Mind that lies fallow but a single Day, sprouts up in Follies that are only to be killed by a constant and assiduous Culture.

That he delights in the misery of others no man will confess, and yet what other motive can make a father cruel?

The utmost extent of man's knowledge, is to know that he knows nothing.

An ostentatious man will rather relate a blunder or an absurdity he has committed, than be debarred from talking of his own dear person.

When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies to innovations.

A woman seldom asks advice before she has bought her wedding clothes.

We are always doing something for posterity, but I would fain see posterity do something for us.

I value my garden more for being full of blackbirds than of cherries, and very frankly give them fruit for their songs.

With regard to donations always expect the most from prudent people, who keep their own accounts.

Music, the greatest good that mortals know and all of heaven we have hear below.

Animals, in their generation, are wiser than the sons of men; but their wisdom is confined to a few particulars, and lies in a very narrow compass.

Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.

Friendships, in general, are suddenly contracted; and therefore it is no wonder they are easily dissolved.

To be an atheist requires an indefinitely greater measure of faith than to recieve all the great truths which atheism would deny.

The unassuming youth seeking instruction with humility gains good fortune.

Plenty of people wish to become devout, but no one wishes to be humble.

Talking with a friend is nothing else but thinking aloud.

No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority.

Nothing is capable of being well set to music that is not nonsense.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.

The unjustifiable severity of a parent is loaded with this aggravation, that those whom he injures are always in his sight.

A man should always consider how much he has more than he wants.

If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.

I will indulge my sorrows, and give way to all the pangs and fury of despair.

What pity is it That we can die, but once to serve our country.

A cloudy day or a little sunshine have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most recent blessings or misfortunes.

Mysterious love, uncertain treasure, hast thou more of pain or pleasure! Endless torments dwell about thee: Yet who would live, and live without thee!

A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of.

If we may believe our logicians, man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter. He has a heart capable of mirth, and naturally disposed to it.

There is nothing more requisite in business than despatch.

Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.

There is nothing which we receive with so much reluctance as advice.

True happiness 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.

To say that authority, whether secular or religious, supplies no ground for morality is not to deny the obvious fact that it supplies a sanction.

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

Among all kinds of Writing, there is none in which Authors are more apt to miscarry than in Works of Humour, as there is none in which they are more ambitious to excel.

Modesty is not only an ornament, but also a guard to virtue.

Browse 84 quotes attributed to Joseph Addison, listed in the source data as a English Writer, organized around themes such as Nature, Life, Friendship. Use the topic links to explore similar quotes, or browse the full author collection in one place.