Joseph Addison quotes

“Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.”

— Joseph Addison

“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”

— Joseph Addison

“Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life.”

— Joseph Addison

“A man should always consider how much he has more than he wants.”

— Joseph Addison

“Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.”

— Joseph Addison

“Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body.”

— Joseph Addison

“Man is subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another.”

— Joseph Addison

“Everything that is new or uncommon raises a pleasure in the imagination, because it fills the soul with an agreeable surprise, gratifies its curiosity, and gives it an idea of which it was not before possessed.”

— Joseph Addison

“If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius.”

— Joseph Addison

“To be an atheist requires an indefinitely greater measure of faith than to recieve all the great truths which atheism would deny.”

— Joseph Addison

“A contented mind is the greatest blessing a man can enjoy in this world.”

— Joseph Addison

“It is only imperfection that complains of what is imperfect. The more perfect we are the more gentle and quiet we become towards the defects of others.”

— Joseph Addison

“True happiness arises, in the first place, from the enjoyment of one's self, and in the next, from the friendship and conversation of a few select companions.”

— Joseph Addison

“The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.”

— Joseph Addison

“Mysterious love, uncertain treasure, hast thou more of pain or pleasure! Endless torments dwell about thee: Yet who would live, and live without thee!”

— Joseph Addison

“A cloudy day or a little sunshine have as great an influence on many constitutions as the most recent blessings or misfortunes.”

— Joseph Addison

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”

— Joseph Addison

“Men may change their climate, but they cannot change their nature. A man that goes out a fool cannot ride or sail himself into common sense.”

— Joseph Addison

“A true critic ought to dwell upon excellencies rather than imperfections, to discover the concealed beauties of a writer, and communicate to the world such things as are worth their observation.”

— Joseph Addison

“A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of.”

— Joseph Addison

“A man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.”

— Joseph Addison

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

— Joseph Addison

“No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority.”

— Joseph Addison

“What sculpture is to a block of marble, education is to the soul.”

— Joseph Addison

“I will indulge my sorrows, and give way to all the pangs and fury of despair.”

— Joseph Addison

“Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind, which are delivered down from generation to generation as presents to the posterity of those who are yet unborn.”

— Joseph Addison

“Admiration is a very short-lived passion, that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object.”

— Joseph Addison

“Better to die ten thousand deaths than wound my honor.”

— Joseph Addison

“Talking with a friend is nothing else but thinking aloud.”

— Joseph Addison

“A woman seldom asks advice before she has bought her wedding clothes.”

— Joseph Addison