Laurence Sterne Quotes

Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood.

For every ten jokes you acquire a hundred enemies.

The desire of knowledge, like the thirst of riches, increases ever with the acquisition of it.

People who are always taking care of their health are like misers, who are hoarding a treasure which they have never spirit enough to enjoy.

Writing, when properly managed, (as you may be sure I think mine is) is but a different name for conversation.

Our passion and principals are constantly in a frenzy, but begin to shift and waver, as we return to reason.

God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.

I am persuaded that every time a man smiles - but much more so when he laughs - it adds something to this fragment of life.

Nothing is so perfectly amusing as a total change of ideas.

First, whenever a man talks loudly against religion, always suspect that it is not his reason, but his passions, which have got the better of his creed. A bad life and a good belief are disagreeable and troublesome neighbors, and where they separate, depend upon it, 'Tis for no other cause but quietness sake.

We lose the right of complaining sometimes, by denying something, but this often triples its force.

People who overly take care of their health are like misers. They hoard up a treasure which they never enjoy.

Tis known by the name of perseverance in a good cause,-and of obstinacy in a bad one.

There are worse occupations in this world than feeling a woman's pulse.

Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world, - though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst, - the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!

Solitude is the best nurse of wisdom.

The history of a soldier's wound beguiles the pain of it.