There cannot live a more unhappy creature than an ill-natured old man, who is neither capable of receiving pleasures, nor sensible of conferring them on others.

Quote by William Temple

Topics: William Temple Quotes

Who ever converses among old books will be hard to please among the new.

Who ever converses among old books will be hard to please among the new.

Man's wisdom is his best friend; folly his worst enemy.

Man's wisdom is his best friend; folly his worst enemy.

When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don't, they don't.

When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don't, they don't.

The problem of evil... Why does God permit it? Or, if God is omnipotent, in...

The problem of evil... Why does God permit it? Or, if God is omnipotent, in...

No one ever was a great poet, that applied himself much to anything else.

No one ever was a great poet, that applied himself much to anything else.

Holland is a country, where the earth is better than the air, and profit more...

Holland is a country, where the earth is better than the air, and profit more...

Authority is by nothing so much strengthened and confirmed as by custom; for no man...

Authority is by nothing so much strengthened and confirmed as by custom; for no man...

The best rules to form a young man, are, to talk little, to hear much,...

The best rules to form a young man, are, to talk little, to hear much,...

The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense, the third good humor,...

The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense, the third good humor,...

When all is done, human life is, at the greatest and the best, but like...

When all is done, human life is, at the greatest and the best, but like...

You may keep your beauty and your health, unless you destroy them yourself, or discourage...

You may keep your beauty and your health, unless you destroy them yourself, or discourage...

Our present time is indeed a criticizing and critical time, hovering between the wish, and...

Our present time is indeed a criticizing and critical time, hovering between the wish, and...

I have always looked upon alchemy in natural philosophy to be like enthusiasm in divinity,...

I have always looked upon alchemy in natural philosophy to be like enthusiasm in divinity,...

The first glass is for myself, the second for my friends, the third for good...

The first glass is for myself, the second for my friends, the third for good...

Cashier: 'Have a nice day.' Me: 'Don't tell me what to do.'

Cashier: 'Have a nice day.' Me: 'Don't tell me what to do.'

America is not only big and rich, it is mysterious; and its capacity for the...

America is not only big and rich, it is mysterious; and its capacity for the...

Laughter rises out of tragedy, when you need it the most, and rewards you for...

Laughter rises out of tragedy, when you need it the most, and rewards you for...

Humor is something that thrives between man's aspirations and his limitations. There is more logic...

Humor is something that thrives between man's aspirations and his limitations. There is more logic...

I am consistently inconsistent.

I am consistently inconsistent.

This I conceive to be the chemical function of humor: to change the character of...

This I conceive to be the chemical function of humor: to change the character of...