Some men are born to feast, and not to fight; Whose sluggish minds, e’en in fair honor’s field, Still on their dinner turn—Let such pot-boiling varlets stay at home, And wield a flesh-hook rather than a sword.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Eating
Pampered vanity is a hotter thing perhaps than starved pride.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Vanity
The inward sighs of humble penitence rise to the ear of heaven, when pealed hymns are scattered to the common air.
—Joanna Baillie
Dreams full oft are found of real events the forms and shadows.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Dreams
The strength of man sinks in the hour of trial: but there doth live a power that to the battle girdeth the weak.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Weakness
From the sad years of life we sometimes do short hours, yea, minutes strike, keen, blissful, bright, never to be forgotten; which, through the dreary gloom of time o’erpast, shine like fair sunny spots on a wild waste.
—Joanna Baillie
Heaven often smites in mercy, even when the blow is severest.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Adversity
Half uttered praise is to the curious mind, as to the eye half veiled beauty is more precious than the whole.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Praise
She who only finds her self-esteem in admiration, depends on others for her daily food and is the very servant of her slaves.—Over men she may exert a childish power, which not ennobles, but degrades her state.
—Joanna Baillie
A good man’s prayers will from the deepest dungeon climb heaven’s height, and bring a blessing down.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Prayer
I believe the earth on which we stand is but the vestibule to glorious mansions, to which a moving crowd is forever pressing.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Earth
That looked as though an angel, in his upward flight, had left his mantle floating in mid-air.
—Joanna Baillie
The brave man is not he who feels no fear, for that were stupid and irrational; but he whose noble soul subdues its fear, and bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Courage, Bravery
Busy work brings after ease;
Ease brings sport and sport brings rest;
For young and old, of all degrees,
The mingled lot is best.
—Joanna Baillie
A willing heart adds feather to the heel.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Attitude
He that will not give some portion of his ease, his blood, his wealth, for others’ good, is a poor, frozen churl.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Kindness, Benevolence, Philanthropy
If my heart were not light, I would die.
—Joanna Baillie
Topics: Cheerfulness
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