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If we may believe our logicians, man is distinguished from all other creatures by the faculty of laughter. He has a heart capable of mirth, and naturally disposed to it.

Joseph Addison

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Joseph Addison
Age: 47 †
Born: 1672
Born: May 1
Died: 1719
Died: June 17
Editor
Essayist
Journalist
Librettist
Playwright
Poet
Politician
Writer
Milston
Wiltshire
Joseph Addisson
Right Hon. Joseph Addison
Men
Naturally
Laughter
Creatures
Capable
Logicians
Literature
Disposed
May
Mirth
Heart
Distinguished
Believe
Faculty

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Whether zeal or moderation be the point we aim at, let us keep fire out of the one, and frost out of the other.
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Adulterers, in the first stages of the church, were excommunicated forever, and unqualified all their lives for bearing a part in Christian assemblies, notwithstanding they might seek it with tears, and all the appearances of the most unfeigned repentance.
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It is folly for an eminent man to think of escaping censure, and a weakness to be affected with it. All the illustrious persons of antiquity, and indeed of every age in the world, have passed through this fiery persecution.
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The greatest parts, without discretion as observed by an elegant writer, may be fatal to their owner as Polyphemus, deprived of his eyes, was only the more exposed on account of his enormous strength and stature.
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T is liberty crowns Britannia's Isle, And makes her barren rocks and her bleak mountains smile.
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It is folly to seek the approbation of any being besides the Supreme.
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Without constancy there is neither love, friendship, nor virtue in the world.
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There is no greater sign of a general decay of virtue in a nation, than a want of zeal in its inhabitants for the good of their country.
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A man with great talents, but void of discretion, is like Polyphemus in the fable, strong and blind, endued with an irresistible force, which for want of sight is of no use to him.
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To a man of pleasure every moment appears to be lost, which partakes not of the vivacity of amusement.
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Sir Francis Bacon observed that a well-written book, compared with its rivals and antagonists, is like Moses' serpent, that immediately swallowed up and devoured those of the Egyptians.
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If men, who in their hearts are friends to a government, forbear giving it their utmost assistance against its enemies, they put it in the power of a few desperate men to ruin the welfare of those who are much superior to them in strength, number, and interest.
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I should think myself a very bad woman, if I had done what I do for a farthing less.
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Guard thy heart on this weak side, where most our nature fails.
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Must one rash word, the infirmity of age, throw down the merit of my better years?
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Good nature will always supply the absence of beauty but beauty cannot supply the absence of good nature.
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Our delight in any particular study, art, or science rises and improves in proportion to the application which we bestow upon it. Thus, what was at first an exercise becomes at length an entertainment.
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Men naturally warm and heady are transported with the greatest flush of good-nature.
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The world is so full of ill-nature that I have lampoons sent me by people who cannot spell, and satires composed by those who scarce know how to write.
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A fine coat is but a livery when the person who wears it discovers no higher sense than that of a footman.
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