Joseph Addison Quotes

• An account of it would have been thought fabulous,were not the Wall itself extant.

  Joseph Addison

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• Wide and undetermined prospects are as pleasing to the fancy, as the speculations of eternity or infinitude are to the understanding.

  Joseph Addison

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• The Knight in the triumph of his heart made several reflections on the greatness of the British Nation; as, that one Englishman could beat three Frenchmen; that we could never be in danger of Popery so long as we took care of our fleet ; that  the Thames was the noblest river in Europe; that London Bridge was a greater piece of work than any of the Seven Wonders of the World; with many other honest prejudices which naturally cleave to the heart of a true Englishman.

  Joseph Addison

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• Mirth is short and transient, cheerfulness fixed and permanent…Mirth is like a flash of lightning that breaks through a gloom of clouds, and glitters for a moment : cheerfulness keeps up a kind of day-light in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity.

  Joseph Addison

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• These widows, Sir, are the most perverse creatures in the world.

  Joseph Addison

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• I have often thought, says Sir Roger, it happens very well that Christmas should fall out in the Middle of Winter.

  Joseph Addison

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• It was a saying of an ancient philosopher, which I find some of our writers have ascribed to Queen Elizabeth, who perhaps might have taken occasion to repeat it, that a good face is a letter of recommendation.

  Joseph Addison

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• Sir Roger told them, with the air of a man who would not give his judgement rashly, that much might be said on both sides.

  Joseph Addison

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• As Sir Roger is landlord to the whole congregation, he keeps them in very good order, and will suffer nobody to sleep in it [the church] besides himself ; for if by chance he has been surprised into a short nap at sermon, upon recovering out of it, he stands up, and looks about him; and if he sees anybody else nodding, either wakes them himself, or sends his servant to them.

  Joseph Addison

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• In all thy humours, whether grave or mellow, Thou’ rt such a touchy, testy, pleasant fellow; Hast so much wit, and mirth, and spleen about thee, There is no living with thee, nor without thee.

  Joseph Addison

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• A perfect tragedy is the noblest production of human nature.

  Joseph Addison

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• Thus I live in the world rather as a Spectator of mankind, than as one of the species, by which means I have made myself a speculative statesman, soldier, merchant, and artisan, without ever meddling with any practical part of life.

  Joseph Addison

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• A reader seldom peruses a book with pleasure until he knows whether the writer of it be a black man or a fair man, of a mild or choleric disposition, married or a bachelor.

  Joseph Addison

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• I remember when our whole island was shaken with an earthquake some years ago, there was an impudent mountebank who sold pills which (as he told the country people) were very good against an earthquake.

  Joseph Addison

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• This republic has been much more powerful than it is at present, as it is still likelier, to sink than increase in its dominions.

  Joseph Addison

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• And those who paint ’em truest praise ’em most.

  Joseph Addison

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• And, pleased th’Almighty’s orders to perform, Rides in the whirl-wind, and directs the storm.

  Joseph Addison

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• ’Twas then great Marlbro’s mighty soul was proved.

  Joseph Addison

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• A painted meadow, or a purling stream.

  Joseph Addison

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• For wheresoe’er I turn my ravished eyes, Gay gilded scenes and shining prospects rise, Poetic fields encompass me around, And still I seem to tread on classic ground.

  Joseph Addison

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Joseph Addison (127)

Birth:	1st May, 1672
Death:	17th June, 1719
Nationality:	British
Profession:	Essayist, Poet, Politician, Playwriter

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