Distance of time and place generally cure what they seem to aggravate; and taking leave of our friends resembles taking leave of the world, of which it has been said, that it is not death, but dying, which is terrible.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Dying, Absence, Death
Wicked companions invite and lure us to hell.
—Henry Fielding
The summary of good-breeding may be reduced to this rale: “Behave to all others as you would they should behave to you.”
—Henry Fielding
My angel, cries Booth, it delights me to hear you talk thus, and for a reason you little guess; for I am assured that one who can so heroically endure adversity, will bear prosperity with equal greatness of soul; for the mind that cannot be dejected by the former, is not likely to be transported with the latter.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Character, Adversity, Perseverance
Wine is a turncoat; first a friend and then an enemy.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: One liners, Alcoholism, Alcohol
Jenny replied to this with a bitterness which might have surprized a judicious person, who had observed the tranquillity with which she bore all the affronts to her chastity; but her patience was perhaps tired out, for this is a virtue which is very apt to be fatigued by exercise.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Patience
The prudence of the best heads is often defeated by the tenderness of the best of hearts.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Kindness, Prudence
Thy modesty’s a candle to thy merit.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Life
No acquisitions of guilt can compensate the loss of that solid inward comfort of mind, which is the sure companion of innocence and virtue; nor can in the least balance the evil of that horror and anxiety which, in their room, guilt introduces into our bosoms.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Guilt
Affectation proceeds from one of these two causes,—vanity or hypocrisy; for as vanity puts us on affecting false characters, in order to purchase applause; so hypocrisy sets us on an endeavor to avoid censure, by concealing our vices under an appearance of their opposite virtues.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Affectation
The man who is inquisitive into the secrets of your affairs, with which he has no concern, should be an object of your caution.—Men no more desire another’s secrets to conceal them, than they would another’s purse for the pleasure only of carrying it.
—Henry Fielding
It is the nature of some minds to insult and tyrannize over little people, this being the means they use to recompense themselves for their extreme servility and condescension to their superiors.—Slaves and flatterers exact the same taxes on all below them which they pay to all above them.
—Henry Fielding
There are those who never reason on what they should do, but on what they have done; as if reason had her eyes behind, and could only see backward.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Reason
Guilt hath very quick ears to an accusation.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Guilt
When children are doing nothing, they are doing mischief.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Children
Dancing begets warmth, which is the parent of wantonness. It is, Sir, the great grandfather of cuckoldom.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Dance, Dancing
Thwackum was for doing justice, and leaving mercy to Heaven.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Punishment
Money is the fruit of evil, as often as the root of it.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Money
It is with jealousy as with the gout; when such distempers are in the blood there is never any security against their breaking out, and that often on the slightest occasions, and when least suspected.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Jealousy
He in a few minutes ravished this fair creature, or at least would have ravished her, if she had not, by a timely compliance, prevented him.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Seduction
A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Goodness
As the law dissolves all contracts which are without a valuable consideration, so a valuable consideration often dissolves the law.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Law
A tender-hearted and compassionate disposition, which inclines men to pity and feel for the misfortunes of others, and which is, even for its own sake, incapable of involving any man in ruin and misery, is of all tempers of mind the most amiable; and though it seldom receives much honor, is worthy of the highest.
—Henry Fielding
Never to reward any one equal to his merits; but always to insinuate that the reward was above it.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Merit, God
Some folks rail against other folks, because other folks have what some folks would be glad of.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Envy
One fool at least in every married couple.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Marriage
A truly elegant taste is generally accompanied with an excellency of heart.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Taste
I have found it; I have discovered the cause of all the misfortunes which befell him. A public school, Joseph, was the cause of all the calamities which he afterwards suffered. Public schools are the nurseries of all vice and immorality.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: School, Education
Considering the unforeseen events of this world, we should be taught that no human condition should inspire men with absolute despair.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Despair
Flattery is never so agreeable as to our blind side; commend a fool for his wit, or a knave for his honesty, and they will receive you into their bosoms.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Foolishness, Fools, Wit, Flattery
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- John Lyly English Dramatist, Author
- Thomas Love Peacock English Satirist
- Evelyn Waugh British Novelist, Satirist
- Anthony Powell English Novelist
- Margaret Drabble English Novelist
- J. B. Priestley British Novelist, Playwright, Essayist
- Iris Murdoch British Novelist, Philosopher
- Pamela Hansford Johnson British Novelist, Critic
- Hugh Walpole English Novelist
- Jane Austen English Novelist
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