A man has generally the good or ill qualities which he attributes to mankind.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Critics, Judgment, Criticism
Trifles discover a character more than actions of importance. In regard to the former, a person is off his guard, and thinks it not material to use disguise. It is no imperfect hint toward the discovery of a man’s character to say he looks as though you might be certain of finding a pin upon his sleeve.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Trifles
The vacant skull of a pedant generally furnishes out a throne and temple for vanity.
—William Shenstone
It happens a little unluckily that the persons who have the most infinite contempt of money are the same that have the strongest appetite for the pleasures it procures.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Money
A reserved man is in continual conflict with the social part of his nature, and even grudges himself the laugh into which he is sometimes betrayed.
—William Shenstone
Modesty makes large amends for the pain it gives those who labor under it, by the prejudice it affords every worthy person in their favor.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Modesty
There is nothing displays the quickness of genius more than a dispute—as two diamonds, encountering, contribute to each other’s lustre.—But perhaps the odds is against the man of taste in this particular.
—William Shenstone
Lost in the dreary shades of dull obscurity.
—William Shenstone
There would not be any absolute necessity for reserve if the world were honest; yet even then it would prove expedient. For, in order to attain any degree of deference, it seems necessary that people should imagine you have more accomplishments than you discover.
—William Shenstone
I think I never knew an instance of great quickness of parts being joined with great solidity. The most rapid rivers are seldom or never deep.
—William Shenstone
When the spirits sink too low, the best cordial is to read over all the letters of one’s friends.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Letters
Zealous men are ever displaying to you the strength of their belief, while judicious men are showing you the grounds of it.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Enthusiasm, Zeal
Softness of manner seems to be in painting what smoothness of syllables is in language, affecting the sense of sight or hearing, previous to any correspondent passion.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Painting
Virtue seems to be nothing more than a motion consonant to the system of things; were a planet to fly from its orbit it would represent a vicious man.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Vice
The lowest people are generally the first to find fault with show or equipage; especially that of a person lately emerged from his obscurity. They never once consider that he is breaking the ice for themselves.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Faults
Virtues, like essences, lose their fragrance when exposed. They are sensitive plants, that will not bear too familiar approaches.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Modesty
What leads to unhappiness, is making pleasure the chief aim.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Pleasure
May I always have a heart superior, with economy suitable, to my fortune.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Fortune
Poetry and consumption are the most flattering of diseases.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Poetry
A rich dress adds but little to the beauty of a person; it may possibly create a deference, but that is rather an enemy to love.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Dress
Independence may be found in comparative as well as in absolute abundance; I mean where a person contracts his desires within the limits of his fortune.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Gratitude, Independence, Blessings, Appreciation
The best time to frame an answer to the letters of a friend, is the moment you receive them. Then the warmth of friendship, and the intelligence received, most forcibly cooperate.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Letters
It has been a maxim with me to admit of easy reconciliation with a person whose offence proceeded from no depravity of heart; but where I was convinced it did so, to forego, for my own sake, all opportunities of revenge. I have derived no small share of happiness from this principle.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Forgiveness
Hope is a flatterer, but the most upright of all parasites; for she frequents the poor man’s hut, as well as the palace of his superior.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Hope
Critics must excuse me if I compare them to certain animals called asses, who, by gnawing vines, originally taught the great advantage of pruning them.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Critics
The difference there is betwixt honor and honesty, seems to be chiefly the motive: the truly honest man does that from duty, which the man of honor does for the sake of character.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Honesty
Deference before company is the genteelest kind of flattery. The flattery of epistles affects one less, as they cannot be shown without an appearance of vanity. Flattery of the verbal kind is gross. In short, applause is of too coarse a nature to be swallowed in the gross, though the extract of tincture be ever so agreeable.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Flattery
I consider your very testy and quarrelsome people as I do a loaded gun, which may, by accident, at any time, go off and kill people.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Quarrels
Reserve is no more essentially connected with understanding, than a church organ with devotion, or wane with good nature.
—William Shenstone
A miser grows rich by seeming poor; an extravagant man grows poor by seeming rich.
—William Shenstone
Topics: Wealth, Money
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