Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Henry Fielding (English Novelist)

Henry Fielding (1707–54) was an English novelist. He established the genre’s inventive purpose as a massive criticism of life and culture.

Educated at Eton and Leiden, Fielding wrote numerous satirical burlesques including The Historical Register for 1736 (1737.) Such sharp political satires of Prime Minister Robert Walpole’s government provoked the introduction of censorship in England. The ensuing Licensing Act of 1737 effectively ended Fielding’s career as a dramatist.

Fielding then turned to write picaresque novels, notably Joseph Andrews (1742) and Tom Jones (1749.) The latter is considered the first undisputed masterpiece of English novels. The central character is a charming, uninhibited youthful man of fierce temper, who pursues true love through contemporary Britain in a sequence of contemptible and hilarious adventures.

In addition to his literary genius, Fielding holds a significant place in the history of law enforcement. In 1749, he used his authority as a magistrate to institute the Bow Street Runners, arguably London’s first professional police force.

More: Wikipedia READ: Works by Henry Fielding

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

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