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Were not this desire of fame very strong, the difficulty of obtaining it, and the danger of losing it when obtained, would be sufficient to deter a man from so vain a pursuit.

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
Pursuit
Difficulty
Fame
Losing
Deter
Danger
Obtaining
Desire
Obtained
Strong
Sufficient
Would
Vain

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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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A thousand glorious actions that might claim Triumphant laurels, and immortal fame, Confus'd in crowds of glorious actions lie, And troops of heroes undistinguished die.
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Antidotes are what you take to prevent dotes.
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The jealous man's disease is of so malignant a nature, that it converts all it takes into its own nourishment.
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A thousand trills and quivering sounds In airy circles o'er us fly, Till, wafted by a gentle breeze, They faint and languish by degrees, And at a distance die.
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There is nothing which one regards so much with an eye of mirth and pity as innocence when it has in it a dash of folly.
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Charity is the perfection and ornament of religion.
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Justice discards party, friendship, kindred, and is always, therefore, represented as blind.
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Man is subject to innumerable pains and sorrows by the very condition of humanity, and yet, as if nature had not sown evils enough in life, we are continually adding grief to grief and aggravating the common calamity by our cruel treatment of one another.
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It is ridiculous for any man to criticize on the works of another, who has not distinguished himself by his own performances.
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When a man has been guilty of any vice or folly, the best atonement he can make for it is to warn others not to fall into the like.
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I have but nine-pence in ready money, but I can draw for a thousand pounds.
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If you wish success in life, make perseverance your bosom friend.
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It is usual for a Man who loves Country Sports to preserve the Game in his own Grounds, and divert himself upon those that belongto his Neighbour.
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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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Advertisements are of great use to the vulgar. First of all, as they are instruments of ambition. A man that is by no means big enough for the Gazette, may easily creep into the advertisements by which means we often see an apothecary in the same paper of news with a plenipotentiary, or a running footman with an ambassador.
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Cunning is only the mimic of discretion, and may pass upon weak men in the same manner as vivacity is often mistaken for wit, and gravity for wisdom.
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It is odd to consider the connection between despotism and barbarity, and how the making one person more than man makes the rest less.
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Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious, but an ill one more contemptible.
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The greatest sweetener of human life is Friendship. To raise this to the highest pitch of enjoyment, is a secret which but few discover.
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