The society of dead authors has this advantage over that of the living: they never flatter us to our faces, nor slander us behind our backs, nor intrude upon our privacy, nor quit their shelves until we take them down.

Quote by Charles Caleb Colton

Topics: Charles Caleb Colton Quotes

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it...

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty; it...

There are three modes of bearing the ills of life, by indifference, by philosophy, and...

There are three modes of bearing the ills of life, by indifference, by philosophy, and...

The family is the most basic unit of government. As the first community to which...

The family is the most basic unit of government. As the first community to which...

The study of mathematics, like the Nile, begins in minuteness but ends in magnificence.

The study of mathematics, like the Nile, begins in minuteness but ends in magnificence.

Patience is the support of weakness; impatience the ruin of strength.

Patience is the support of weakness; impatience the ruin of strength.

To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had...

To dare to live alone is the rarest courage; since there are many who had...

It is always safe to learn, even from our enemies; seldom safe to venture to...

It is always safe to learn, even from our enemies; seldom safe to venture to...

Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship...never.

Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship...never.

The present time has one advantage over every other - it is our own.

The present time has one advantage over every other - it is our own.

Many books require no thought from those who read them, and for a very simple...

Many books require no thought from those who read them, and for a very simple...

There is this difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man,...

There is this difference between happiness and wisdom: he that thinks himself the happiest man,...

Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship - never.

Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship - never.

A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we...

A harmless hilarity and a buoyant cheerfulness are not infrequent concomitants of genius; and we...

It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler...

It is doubtful whether mankind are most indebted to those who like Bacon and Butler...

That writer does the most who gives his reader the most knowledge and takes from...

That writer does the most who gives his reader the most knowledge and takes from...

We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock...

We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock...

None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.

None are so fond of secrets as those who do not mean to keep them.

Gross and vulgar minds will always pay a higher respect to wealth than to talent;...

Gross and vulgar minds will always pay a higher respect to wealth than to talent;...

The open mind never acts: when we have done our utmost to arrive at a...

The open mind never acts: when we have done our utmost to arrive at a...

It is the mind that maketh good of ill, that maketh wretch or happy, rich...

It is the mind that maketh good of ill, that maketh wretch or happy, rich...