Henry Fielding Quotes
The woman and the soldier who do not defend the first pass will never defend the last.
A good face they say, is a letter of recommendation. O Nature, Nature, why art thou so dishonest, as ever to send men with these false recommendations into the World!
It is well known to all great men, that by conferring an obligation they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of creating many enemies.
As a conquered rebellion strengthens a government, or as health is more perfectly established by recovery from some diseases; so anger, when removed, often gives new life to affection.
For parents to restrain the inclinations of their children in marriage is an usurped power.
It is not enough that your designs, nay that your actions, are intrinsically good, you must take care they shall appear so.
Some virtuous women are too liberal in their insults to a frail sister; but virtue can support itself without borrowing any assistance from the vices of other women.
It may be laid down as a general rule, that no woman who hath any great pretensions to admiration is ever well pleased in a company where she perceives herself to fill only the second place.
It is not from nature, but from education and habits, that our wants are chiefly derived.
There is scarcely any man, how much soever he may despise the character of a flatterer, but will condescend in the meanest manner to flatter himself.
His designs were strictly honourable, as the phrase is; that is, to rob a lady of her fortune by way of marriage.
There are two considerations which always imbitter the heart of an avaricious man--the one is a perpetual thirst after more riches, the other the prospect of leaving what he has already acquired.
A good conscience is never lawless in the worst regulated state, and will provide those laws for itself which the neglect of legislators had forgotten to supply.
There is nothing a Man of good Sense dreads so much in a Wife, as her having more Sense than himself.
There is perhaps no surer mark of folly, than to attempt to correct natural infirmities of those we love.
Fear hath the common fault of a justice of peace, and is apt to conclude hastily from every slight circumstance, without examining the evidence on both sides.
A grave aspect to a grave character is of much more consequence than the world is generally aware of; a barber may make you laugh, but a surgeon ought rather to make you cry.
Considering the unforeseen events of this world, we should be taught that no human condition should inspire men with absolute despair.
It is admirably remarked, by a most excellent writer, that zeal can no more hurry a man to act in direct opposition to itself than a rapid stream can carry a boat against its own current.
Wit, like hunger, will be with great difficulty restrained from falling on vice and ignorance, where there is great plenty and variety of food.
I am content; that is a blessing greater than riches; and he to whom that is given need ask no more.
There is no zeal blinder than that which is inspired with a love of justice against offenders.
The constant desire of pleasing which is the peculiar quality of some, may be called the happiest of all desires in this that it rarely fails of attaining its end when not disgraced by affectation.
Nothing can be so quick and sudden as the operations of the mind, especially when hope, or fear, or jealousy, to which the other two are but journeymen, set it to work.
What was said by the Latin poet of labor--that it conquers all things--is much more true when applied to impudence.