Robert South (1634–1716) was an English theologian and preacher. He was known for his vigorous preaching and his Latin poetry.
Born in Hackney, London, South was educated at Westminster and Christ Church-Oxford. He accepted Presbyterianism for a time, but he received orders in secret in 1658 and, was appointed public orator of Oxford in 1660. His sermons, which are full of contempt of the Puritans, roused the reinstated royalists.
South became a family chaplain to Edward, 1st Earl Clarendon, prebendary of Westminster (1663,) canon of Christ Church (1670,) and rector at Islip (1678,) but his bluntness limited further preferment. He acquiesced in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 but strongly opposed the Comprehension of dissenters’ scheme in 1689.
South published a large number of sermons, and they appeared in a collected form in 1692 in six volumes, reaching a second edition in his lifetime in 1715. His Sermons on Several Occasions was published in 1878.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Robert South
All deception in the course of life is indeed nothing else but a lie reduced to practice, and falsehood passing from words into things.
—Robert South
Topics: Deception/Lying, Deceit, Deception
Philosophy is of two kinds: that which relates to conduct, and that which relates to knowledge. The first teaches us to value all things at their real worth, to be contented with little, modest in prosperity, patient in trouble, equal-minded at all times. It teaches us our duty to our neighbor and ourselves. But it is he who possesses both that is the true philosopher. The more he knows, the more he is desirous of knowing; and yet the farther he advances in knowledge, the better he understands how little he can attain, and the more deeply he feels that God alone can satisfy the infinite desires of an immortal soul. To understand this is the height and perfection of philosophy.
—Robert South
Topics: Philosophy
The true one of youth’s love, proving a faithful help-meet in those years when the dream of life is over, and we live in its realities.
—Robert South
Topics: Love
My notions of life are much the same as they are about travelling; there is a good deal of amusement on the road, but, after all, one wants to be at rest.
—Robert South
What a world were this; how unendurable its weight, if they whom death had sundered did not meet again?
—Robert South
To a resolute mind, wishing to do is the first step toward doing. But if we do not wish to do a thing it becomes impossible.
—Robert South
When once infidelity can persuade men that they shall die like beasts, they will soon be brought to live like beasts also.
—Robert South
He whose heart is not excited on the spot which a martyr has sanctified by his sufferings, or at the grave of one who has greatly benefited mankind, must be more inferior to the multitude in his moral, than he possibly can be above them in his intellectual nature.
—Robert South
Faith in the hereafter is as necessary for the intellectual, as for the moral character; and to the man of letters, as well as the Christian, the present forms but the slightest portion of his existence.
—Robert South
Topics: Immortality
Call not that man wretched, who, whatever ills he suffers, has a child to love.
—Robert South
Topics: Children
Excess is not the only thing that breaks up both health and enjoyment; many are brought into a very ill and languishing habit of body by mere sloth, which is both a great sin, and the cause of many more.
—Robert South
In all worldly things that a man pursues with the greatest eagerness and intention of mind, he finds not half the pleasure in the actual possession of them as he proposed to himself in the expectation.
—Robert South
Topics: Anticipation, Possessions
It is quite right that there should be a heavy duty on cards; not only on moral grounds; not only because they act on a social party like a torpedo, silencing the merry voice and numbing the play of the features; not only to fill the hunger of the public purse, which is always empty, however much you may put into it; but also because every pack of cards is a malicious libel on courts, and on the world, seeing that the trumpery with number one at the head is the best part of them; and that it gives kings and queens no other companions than knaves.
—Robert South
God never accepts a good inclination instead of a good action, where that action may be done; nay, so much the contrary, that, if a good inclination be not seconded by a good action, the want of that action is made so much the more criminal and inexcusable.
—Robert South
Novelty is the great parent of pleasure.
—Robert South
Topics: Pleasure
The very society of joy redoubles it; so that, while it lights upon my friend it rebounds upon myself, and the brighter his candle burns the more easily will it light mine.
—Robert South
Topics: Joy
No man ever offended his own conscience, but first or last it was revenged upon him for it.
—Robert South
Topics: Conscience
A good man and a wise man may, at times, be angry with the world, and at times grieved for it; but no man was ever discontented with the world if he did his duty in it.
—Robert South
Topics: Discontent, Anger, World
Premeditation of thought and brevity of expression are the great ingredients of that reverence that is required to a pious and acceptable prayer.
—Robert South
Topics: Prayer
Abstinence is the great strengthener and clearer of reason.
—Robert South
Men must love the truth before they thoroughly believe it.
—Robert South
Topics: Truth
Pride is the common forerunner of a fall. It was the devil’s sin, and the devil’s ruin; and has been, ever since, the devil’s stratagem, who, like an expert wrestler, usually gives a man a lift before he gives him a throw.
—Robert South
Topics: Pride
There are not a few who believe in no God but Mammon, no devil but the absence of gold, no damnation but being poor, and no hell but an empty purse; and not a few of their descendants are living still.
—Robert South
Topics: Wealth
While actions are always to be judged by the immutable standard of right and wrong, the judgments we pass upon men must be qualified by considerations of age, country, station, and other accidental circumstances; and it will then be found that he who is most charitable in his judgment is generally the least unjust.
—Robert South
Topics: Judgment, Charity
Truth makes the face of that person shine who speaks and owns it.
—Robert South
Topics: Face
The mind of a proud man is like a mushroom, which starts up in a night: his business is first to forget himself, and then his friends.
—Robert South
Topics: Pride
Beware of those who are homeless by choice! You have no hold on a human being whose affections are without a taproot!
—Robert South
Days of respite are golden days.
—Robert South
Topics: Leisure
There’s none so homely but loves a looking-glass.
—Robert South
Topics: Vanity
There is a magic in that little world, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds comforts and virtues never known beyond its hallowed limits.
—Robert South
Topics: Home, Magic
There never was any heart truly great and generous that was not also tender and compassionate.
—Robert South
Topics: Compassion, Greatness, Heart, Kindness
No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other’s worth.
—Robert South
Topics: Friends and Friendship
Speech was given to the ordinary sort of men, whereby to communicate their mind; but to wise men, whereby to conceal it.
—Robert South
Whatever the will commands the whole man must do; the empire of the will over all the faculties being absolutely over-ruling and despotic.
—Robert South
Topics: Will
Every kind of imitation speaks the person that imitates inferior to him whom he imitates, as the copy is to the original.
—Robert South
Topics: Imitation
It is idleness that creates impossibilities; and where people don’t care to do anything, they shelter themselves under a permission that it cannot be done.
—Robert South
Topics: Potential, Idleness, Possibilities
Easier were it to hurl the rooted mountain from its base, than force the yoke of slavery upon men determined to be free.
—Robert South
Topics: Liberty
The vices of old age have the stiffness of it too; and as it is the unfittest time to learn in, so the unfitness of it to unlearn will be found much greater.
—Robert South
Topics: Age
Fear is two-fold; a fear of solicitous anxiety, such as makes us let go our confidence in God’s providence, and a fear of prudential caution, whereby, from a due estimate of approaching evil, we endeavor our own security.—The former is wrong and forbidden; the latter not only lawful, but laudable.
—Robert South
Topics: Fear
Passion is the drunkenness of the mind.
—Robert South
Topics: Passion
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