Quotes from Joseph Addison

The sun, which is as the great soul of the universe, and produces all the necessaries of life, has a particular influence in cheering the mind of man, and making the heart glad.

To be perfectly just is an attribute in the divine nature; to be so to the utmost of our abilities, is the glory of man.

I am very much concerned when I see young gentlemen of fortune and quality so wholly set upon pleasures and diversions, that they neglect all those improvements in wisdom and knowledge which may make them easy to themselves and useful to the world.

The ill are damped with pain and anguish at the sight of all that is laudable, lovely, or happy.

If you hate your enemies, you will contract such a vicious habit of mind, as by degrees will break out upon those who are your friends.

And even the greatest actions of a celebrated person labour under this disadvantage, that however surprising and extraordinary they may be, they are no more than what are expected from him; but on the contrary, if they fall any thing below the opinion that is conceived of him, though they might raise the reputation of another, they are a diminution to his.

If there's a power above us, (And that there is all nature cries aloud through all her works) he must delight in virtue.

Those marriages generally abound most with love and constancy that are preceded by a long courtship.

It is a great presumption to ascribe our successes to our own management, and not to esteem ourselves upon any blessing, rather as it is the bounty of heaven, than the acquisition of our own prudence.

One of the best springs of generous and worthy actions, is having generous and worthy thoughts of ourselves: whoever has a mean opinion of the dignity of his nature will act in no higher a rank than he has allotted himself in his own estimation.

The woman that deliberates is lost.

When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway,The post of honor is a private station.