Horace Walpole Quotes

I never found even in my juvenile hours that it was necessary to go a thousand miles in search of themes for moralizing.

The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well.

In all science, error precedes the truth, and it is better it should go first than last.

Life is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.

The Methodists love your big sinners, as proper subjects to work upon.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

Nine-tenths of the people were created so you would want to be with the other tenth.

Foolish writers and readers are created for each other.

Who has begun has half done. Have the courage to be wise. Begin!

When people will not weed their own minds, they are apt to be overrun by nettles.

Had I children, my utmost endeavors would be to make them musicians.

I have often said, and oftener think, that this world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel - a solution of why Democritus laughed and Heraclitus wept.

By deafness one gains in one respect more than one loses; one misses more nonsense than sense.

I know that I have had friends who would never have vexed or betrayed me, if they had walked on all fours.

Justice is rather the activity of truth, than a virtue in itself. Truth tells us what is due to others, and justice renders that due. Injustice is acting a lie.

To act with common sense according to the moment, is the best wisdom I know.

It was said of old Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, that she never puts dots over her I s, to save ink.

A tragedy can never suffer by delay: a comedy may, because the allusions or the manners represented in it maybe temporary.

This world is a comedy, not Life.

We often repent of our first thoughts, and scarce ever of our second.

History is a romance that is believed; romance, a history that is not believed.

Mystery is the wisdom of blockheads.

It was easier to conquer it than to know what to do with it.

Men are often capable of greater things than they perform - They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent.

Every drop of ink in my pen ran cold.

Plot, rules, nor even poetry, are not half so great beauties in tragedy or comedy as a just imitation of nature, of character, of the passions and their operations in diversified situations.

Virtue knows to a farthing what it has lost by not having been vice.

I do not dislike the French from the vulgar antipathy between neighboring nations, but for their insolent and unfounded air of superiority.

At last some curious traveller from Lima will visit England, and give a description of the ruins of St. Paul's, like the editions of Baalbec and Palmyra.

The way to ensure summer in England is to have it framed and glazed in a comfortable room.

A careless song, with a little nonsense in it now and then, does not mis-become a monarch.

I look upon paradoxes as the impotent efforts of men who, not having capacity to draw attention and celebrity from good sense, fly to eccentricities to make themselves noted.

The wisest prophets make sure of the event first.

I do not admire politicians; but when they are excellent in their way, one cannot help allowing them their due.

Our [British] summers are often, though beautiful for verdure, so cold, that they are rather cold winters.

He was persuaded he could know no happiness but in the society of one with whom he could for ever indulge the melancholy that had taken possession of his soul.

The best philosophy is to do one's duties, take the world as it comes, submit respectfully to one's lot; bless the goodness that has given us so much happiness with it.

I sit with my toes in a brook, And if any one axes forwhy? I hits them a rap with my crook, For 'tis sentiment does it, says I.

Alexander at the head of the world never tasted the true pleasure that boys of his own age have enjoyed at the head of a school.

Two clergymen disputing whether ordination would be valid without the imposition of both hands, the more formal one said, "Do you think the Holy Dove could fly down with only one wing?

How well Shakespeare knew how to improve and exalt little circumstances, when he borrowed them from circumstantial or vulgar historians.

Perhaps those, who, trembling most, maintain a dignity in their fate, are the bravest: resolution on reflection is real courage.

It is difficult to divest one's self of vanity; because impossible to divest one's self of self-love.

Lawyers and rogues are vermin not easily rooted out of a rich soil.

[The] taste [of the French] is too timid to be true taste--or is but half taste.

It is charming to totter into vogue.

Poetry is a beautiful way of spoiling prose, and the laborious art of exchanging plain sense for harmony.

How much on outward show does all depend, If virtues from within no lustre lend! Strip off th'externals M and Y, the rest Proves Majesty itself is but a Jest.

Oh, we are ridiculous animals; and if the angels have any fun in them, how we must divert them!

An ancient prophecy ... pronounced, That the castle and lordship of Otranto should pass from the present family, whenever the real owner should be grown too large to inhabit it!