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
When I’m not thank’d at all, I’m thank’d enough. I’ve done my duty, and I’ve done no more.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Appreciation, Gratitude
His designs were strictly honorable, as the phrase is; that is, to rob a lady of her fortune by way of marriage.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Marriage, Purpose, Intentions
Make money your God, and it will plague you like the devil.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Money
We are as liable to be corrupted by books, as by companions.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Reading, Books
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: Death, Dying, Absence
Most men like in women what is most opposite their own characters.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Woman
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
Dancing begets warmth, which is the parent of wantonness. It is, Sir, the great grandfather of cuckoldom.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Dance, Dancing
Never to reward any one equal to his merits; but always to insinuate that the reward was above it.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Merit, God
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: Adversity, Character, Perseverance
There is nothing a man of good sense dreads in a wife so much as her having more sense than himself.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Common Sense
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
Wine and youth are fire upon fire.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Wine
Conscience—the only incorruptible thing about us.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Conscience
When children are doing nothing, they are doing mischief.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Children
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 hath often been said that it is not death but dying that is terrible.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Dying, Death
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
The prudence of the best heads is often defeated by the tenderness of the best of hearts.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Kindness, Prudence
It is a trite but true definition that examples work more forcibly on the mind than precepts.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Example
Thy modesty’s a candle to thy merit.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Life
O Vanity, how little is thy force acknowledged, or thy operations discerned! How wantonly dost thou deceive mankind, under different disguises!—Sometimes thou dost wear the face of pity; sometimes of generosity; nay, thou hast the assurance to put on those glorious ornaments which belong only to heroic virtue.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Vanity
A rich man without charity is a rogue; and perhaps it would be no difficult matter to prove that he is also a fool.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Charity
Petition me no petitions, sir, to-day;
Let other hours be set apart for business.
To-day it is our pleasure to be drunk;
And this our queen shall be as drunk as we.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Drinking
Giving comfort under affliction requires that penetration into the human mind, joined to that experience which knows how to soothe, how to reason, and how to ridicule, taking the utmost care not to apply those arts improperly.
—Henry Fielding
There cannot be a more glorious object in creation than a human being replete with benevolence, meditating in what manner he may render himself most acceptable to the Creator by doing good to his creatures.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Benevolence
As a great part of the uneasiness of matrimony arises from mere trifles, it would be wise in every young married man to enter into an agreement with his wife that in all disputes the party who was most convinced they were right should always surrender the victory. By this means both would be more forward to give up the cause.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Marriage
Worth begets in base minds, envy; in great souls, emulation.
—Henry Fielding
Topics: Worth
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
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 English Novelist
- Hugh Walpole English Novelist
- Jane Austen English Novelist
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