Through the sharp air a flaky torrent flies, Mocks the slow sight, and hides the gloomy skies; The fleecy clouds their chilly bosoms bare, And shed their substance on the floating air.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Snow
Habit with him was all the test of truth; “it must be right, I’ve done it from my youth.”
—George Crabbe
How often do we sigh for opportunities of doing good, whilst we neglect the openings of Providence in little things, which would frequently lead to the accomplishment of most important usefulness! Dr. Johnson used to say, “He who waits to do a great deal of good at once will never do any.” Good is done by degrees. However small in proportion the benefits which follow individual attempts to do good, a great deal may thus be accomplished by perseverance, even in the midst of discouragements and disappointments
—George Crabbe
Topics: Usefullness, Opportunity
Conscience! conscience! man’s most faithful friend!
—George Crabbe
Topics: Conscience
The fable is allegorical; its actions are natural, but its agents imaginary.—The tale is fictitious, but not imaginary, for both its agents and actions are drawn from the passing scenes of life.—Tales are written mainly for amusement: fables for instruction.
—George Crabbe
Anger makes us strong, Blind and impatient, And it leads us wrong; The strength is quickly lost; We feel the error long.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Anger, Wine
Faction is the demon of discord armed with power to do endless mischief, and intent only on destroying whatever opposes its progress.—Woe to that state in which it has found an entrance.
—George Crabbe
A great lie is like a great fish on dry land; it may fret and fling, and make a frightful bother, but it cannot hurt you. You have only to keep still and it will die of itself.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Lying
In this wild world, the fondest and the best are the most tried, most troubled, and distrest.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Adversity
Man yields to custom, as he bows to fate—in all things ruled, mind, body, and estate.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Custom
It is not their long reigns, nor their frequent changes which occasion the fall of empires, but their abuse of power.
—George Crabbe
There is a moral excellence attainable by all who have the will to strive for it; but there is an intellectual and physical superiority which is above the reach of our wishes, and is granted to only a few.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Excellence
From powerful causes spring the empiric’s gains.—Man’s love of life, his weakness and his pains—these first induce him the vile trash to try, then lend his name that others too may buy.
—George Crabbe
Our farmers round, well pleased with constant gain, like other farmers, flourish and complain.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Farming
Books cannot always please, however good;
Minds are not ever craving for their food.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Books
In idle wishes fools supinely stay; be there a will and wisdom finds a way.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Will
Deceivers are the most dangerous members of society.—They trifle with the best affections of our nature, and violate the most sacred obligations.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Deceit, Deception
Oh, how the passions, insolent and strong, bear our weak minds their rapid course along; make us the madness of their will obey; then die, and leave us to our griefs a prey!
—George Crabbe
Topics: Passion
Secrets with girls, like guns with boys, are never valued till they make a noise.
—George Crabbe
Topics: Secrecy
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