In the eye of that Supreme Being to whom our whole internal frame is uncovered, motives and dispositions hold the place of actions.
—Hugh Blair
He who goes no further than bare justice, stops at the beginning of virtue.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Justice
Gentleness corrects whatever is offensive in our manner.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Strength
That discipline which corrects the eagerness of worldly passions, which fortifies the heart with virtuous principles, which enlightens the mind with useful knowledge, and furnishes to it matter of enjoyment from within itself, is of more consequence to real felicity than all the provisions which we can make of the goods of fortune.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Discipline, Self-improvement
Anxiety is the poison of human life; the parent of many sins and of more miseries.—In a world where everything is doubtful, and where we may be disappointed, and be blessed in disappointment, why this restless stir and commotion of mind?—Can it alter the cause, or unravel the mystery of human events?
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Anxiety, Worry
Nothing, except what flows from the heart, can render even external manners truly pleasing.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Manners
It is for the sake of man, not of God, that worship and prayers are required; that man may be made better—that he may be confirmed in a proper sense of his dependent state, and acquire those pious and virtuous dispositions in which his highest improvement consists.
—Hugh Blair
The roses of pleasure seldom last long enough to adorn the brow of him who plucks them, and they are the only roses which do not retain their sweetness after they have lost their beauty.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Pleasure
Sentiment and principle are often mistaken for each other, though, in fact, they widely differ.—Sentiment is the virtue of ideas; principle the virtue of action.—Sentiment has its seat in the head; principle, in the heart. Sentiment suggests fine harangues and subtle distinctions; principle conceives just notions, and performs good actions in consequence of them. Sentiment refines away the simplicity of truth, and the plainness of piety; and “gives us virtue in words, and vice in deeds.” Sentiment may be called the Athenian who knew what was right; and principle, the Lacedemonian who practised it.
—Hugh Blair
Dissimulation in youth is the forerunner of perfidy in old age.—It degrades parts and learning, obscures the luster of every accomplishment, and sinks us into contempt.—The path of falsehood is a perplexing maze.—One artifice leads on to another, till, as the intricacy of the labyrinth increases, we are left entangled in our own snare.
—Hugh Blair
Adversity, how blunt are all the arrows of thy quiver in comparison with those of guilt.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Guilt
There is no man in any rank who is always at liberty to act as he would incline. In some quarter or other he is limited by circumstances.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Opportunities, Reality
Pride makes us esteem ourselves; vanity to desire the esteem of others.—It is just to say as Swift has done, that a proud man is too proud to be vain.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Pride, Vanity
The self-conceit of the young is the great source of those dangers to which they are exposed.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Youth
The great standard of literature, as to purity and exactness of style, is the Bible.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Literature, Books
Fretfulness of temper will generally characterize those who are negligent of order.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Order
Between levity and cheerfulness there is a wide distinction; the mind that is most open to the former is frequently a stranger to the latter.—Levity may be the offspring of folly or vice; cheerfulness is the natural offspring of wisdom and virtue.
—Hugh Blair
Time hurries on with a resistless, unremitting stream, yet treads more soft than e’er did midnight thief that slides his hand under the miser’s pillow, and carries off his prize.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Time
What ever purifies the heart also fortifies it.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Heart
O cursed lust of gold! when, for thy sake, the fool throws up his interest in both worlds, first starved in this, then damned in that to come!
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Gold
Willingness to be taught what we do not know, is the sure pledge of growth both in knowledge and wisdom.
—Hugh Blair
Industry is not only the instrument of improvement, but the foundation of pleasure.—He who is a stranger to it may possess, but cannot enjoy, for it is labor only which gives relish to pleasure.—It is the indispensable condition of possessing a sound mind in a sound body, and is the appointed vehicle of every good to man.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Industry
Of all the follies incident to youth, there are none which blast their prospects, or render them more contemptible, than self-conceit, presumption, and obstinacy. By checking progress in improvement, they fix one in long immaturity, and produce irreparable mischief.
—Hugh Blair
True gentleness is founded on a sense of what we owe to him who made us, and to the common nature which we all share.—It arises from reflection on our own failings and wants, and from just views of the condition and duty of men.—It is native feeling heightened and improved by principle.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Gentleness
Exercise is the chief source of improvement in our faculties.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Exercise, Health
To seem disturbed at calumny, is the way to make it believed, and stabbing your defamer, will not prove you innocent.—Live an exemplary life, and then your good character will overcome and refute the calumny.
—Hugh Blair
Affectation is certain deformity.—By forming themselves on fantastic models the young begin with being ridiculous, and often end in being vicious.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Affectation, Youth
Only mediocrity of enjoyment is allowed to man.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Enjoyment, One liners
The least degree of ambiguity, which leaves the mind in suspense as to the meaning, ought to be avoided with the greatest care.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Style
Compassion is an emotion of which we ought never to be ashamed. Graceful, particularly in youth, is the tear of sympathy, and the heart that melts at the tale of woe. We should not permit ease and indulgence to contract our affections, and wrap us up in a selfish enjoyment; but we should accustom ourselves to think of the distresses of human, life, of the solitary cottage; the dying parent, and the weeping orphan. Nor ought we ever to sport with pain and distress in any of our amusements, or treat even the meanest insect with wanton cruelty.
—Hugh Blair
Topics: Compassion
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Walter Scott Scottish Novelist
- Francis Jeffrey, Lord Jeffrey Scottish Judge, Critic
- Adam Smith Scottish Philosopher
- David Livingstone Scottish Missionary, Explorer
- Thomas Carlyle Scottish Historian, Essayist
- Seneca the Elder (Marcus Annaeus Seneca) Roman Rhetorician
- Robert Louis Stevenson Scottish Novelist
- Thomas Reid Scottish Philosopher
- Robert Burns Scottish Poet, Songwriter
- George Matheson Scottish Theologian
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