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Though a man cannot abstain from being weak, he may from being vicious.

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
Weak
Though
Cannot
May
Men
Abstain
Vicious

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Poverty palls the most generous spirits it cows industry, and casts resolution itself into despair.
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There is sometimes a greater judgement shewn in deviating from the rules of art, than in adhering to them and?there ismore beauty inthe works of a great genius who is ignorant of all the rules of art, than in the works of a little genius, who not only knows but scrupulously observes them.
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Antidotes are what you take to prevent dotes.
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Others proclaim the infirmities of a great man with satisfaction and complacence, if they discover none of the like in themselves.
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There is not, in my opinion, anything more mysterious in nature than this instinct in animals, which thus rise above reason, and yet fall infinitely short of it.
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The care of our national commerce redounds more to the riches and prosperity of the public than any other act of government.
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To this end, nothing is to be more carefully consulted than plainness. In a lady's attire this is the single excellence for to be what some people call fine, is the same vice, in that case, as to be florid is in writing or speaking.
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There are no more useful members in a commonwealth than merchants. They knit mankind together in a mutual intercourse of good offices, distribute the gifts of Nature, find work for the poor, and wealth to the rich, and magnificence to the great.
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Must one rash word, the infirmity of age, throw down the merit of my better years?
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A true critic ought to dwell rather upon excellencies than imperfections
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To look upon the soul as going on from strength to strength, to consider that she is to shine forever with new accessions of glory, and brighten to all eternity that she will be still adding virtue to virtue, and knowledge to knowledge,--carries in it something wonderfully agreeable to that ambition which is natural to the mind of man.
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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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Let echo, too, perform her part, Prolonging every note with art And in a low expiring strain, Play all the comfort o'er again.
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To be exempt from the passions with which others are tormented, is the only pleasing solitude.
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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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Faith is kept alive in us, and gathers strength, more from practice than from speculations.
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Oh, Liberty! thou goddess heavenly bright! Profuse of bliss, and pregnant with delight! Eternal pleasures in thy presence reign, And smiling plenty leads thy wanton train.
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Who does not more admire Cicero as an author than as a consul of Rome?
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Quick sensitivity is inseperable from a ready understanding.
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Misery and ignorance are always the cause of great evils. Misery is easily excited to anger, and ignorance soon yields to perfidious counsels.
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