Satire is a composition of salt and mercury; and it depends upon the different mixture and preparation of those ingredients, that it comes out a noble medicine, or a rank poison.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
The tendency to whining and complaining may be taken as the surest sign symptom of little souls and inferior intellects.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
Topics: Complaining, Complaints, Pessimism
There is nothing respecting which a man may be so long unconscious, as of the extent and strength of his prejudices.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
Topics: Prejudice
Many who have tasted all the pleasures of sin have forsaken it and come over to virtue; but there are few, if any, who having tried the sweets of virtue could ever be drawn off from it, or find in their hearts to fall back to their former course.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
Topics: Virtue
Good will, like a good name, is got by many actions, and lost by one.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
Topics: Reputation
Simplicity of manner is the last attainment. Men are very long afraid of being natural, from the dread of being taken for ordinary.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
Topics: Manners
The disease and its medicine are like two factions in a besieged town; they tear one another to pieces, but both unite against their common enemy, Nature.
—Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey
Topics: Medicine, Disease
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Hugh Blair Scottish Minister, Scholar
- Van Wyck Brooks American Critic
- John Churton Collins English Literary Critic
- Bayard Taylor American Poet
- George Edward Woodberry American Literary Critic
- Diana Trilling American Literary Critic
- Anatole Broyard American Literary Critic
- F. L. Lucas English Literary Critic
- Harold Bloom American Literary Critic, Author
- Thomas Carlyle Scottish Historian, Essayist
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