William Hazlitt Quotes

Though familiarity may not breed contempt it takes off the edge of admiration.

It is well there is no one without fault for he would not have a friend in the world. He would seem to belong to a different species.

To be capable of steady friendship or lasting love are the two greatest proofs not only of goodness of heart but of strength of mind.

We often choose a friend as we do a mistress for no particular excellence in themselves but merely from some circumstance that flatters our self-love.

True friendship is self-love at second hand.

None are completely wretched but those who are without hope and few are reduced so low as that.

The more we do the more we can do the more busy we are the more leisure we have.

The love of liberty is the love of others the love of power is the love of ourselves.

Indolence is a delightful but distressing state. We must be doing something to be happy.

To get others to come into our ways of thinking we must go over to theirs and it is necessary to follow in order to lead.

Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.

We attempt nothing great but from a sense of the difficulties we have to encounter we persevere in nothing great but from a pride in overcoming them.

Without the aid of prejudice and custom I should not be able to find my way across the room.

Those who are fond of setting things to rights have no great objection to setting them wrong.

Envy among other ingredients has a mixture of the love of justice in it. We are more angry at undeserved than at deserved good fortune.

As is our confidence so is our capacity.

The truly proud man is satisfied with his own good opinion and does not seek to make converts to it.

The public have neither shame nor gratitude.

Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they might have been.

It is essential to the triumph of reform that it shall never succeed.

We had as lief not be as not be ourselves.

If we wish to know the force of human genius we should read Shakespeare. If we wish to see the insignificance of human learning we may study his commentators.

Let a man's talents or virtues be what they may he will only feel satisfaction as he is satisfied in himself.

Let a man's talents or virtues be what they may he will only feel satisfaction in his society as he is satisfied in himself.

Simplicity of character is the natural result of profound thought.

A life of action and danger moderates the dread of death. It not only gives us fortitude to bear pain but teaches us at every step the precarious tenure on which we hold our present being.

If a person has no delicacy he has you in his power.

There is nothing good to be had in the country or if there be they will not let you have it.

One truth discovered one pang of regret at not being able to express it is better than all the fluency and flippancy in the world.

The love of liberty is the love of others the love of power is the love of ourselves.

Prosperity is a great teacher adversity a greater.