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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.

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
Wit
Manner
Pass
Vivacity
Weak
Mimic
Wisdom
Discretion
Upon
Cunning
Often
Mistaken
May
Gravity

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Heaven is not to be looked upon only as the reward, but the natural effect, of a religious life.
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Contentment produces, in some measure, all those effects which the alchemist usually ascribes to what he calls the philosopher's stone and if it does not bring riches, it does the same thing by banishing the desire for them.
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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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The lives of great men cannot be writ with any tolerable degree of elegance or exactness within a short time after their decease.
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We are apt to rely upon future prospects, and become really expensive while we are only rich in possibility. We live up to our expectations, not to our possessions, and make a figure proportionable to what we may be, not what we are.
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Antidotes are what you take to prevent dotes.
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Jesters do often prove prophets.
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A jealous man is very quick in his application: he knows how to find a double edge in an invective, and to draw a satire on himself out of a panegyrick on another.
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The sense of honour is of so fine and delicate a nature, that it is only to be met with in minds which are naturally noble, or in such as have been cultivated by good examples, or a refined education.
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Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has occasion for it courage which arises from a sense of duty acts in a uniform manner.
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A just and reasonable modesty does not only recommend eloquence, but sets off every great talent which a man can be possessed of.
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It is impossible for us, who live in the latter ages of the world, to make observations in criticism, morality, or in any art or science, which have not been touched upon by others. We have little else left us but to represent the common sense of mankind in more strong, more beautiful, or more uncommon lights.
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Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.
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Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.
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A perfect tragedy is the noblest production of human nature.
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One of the most important but one of the most difficult things for a powerful mind is to be its own master.
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Knowledge is, indeed, that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above another.
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The most exquisite words and finest strokes of an author are those which very often appear the most doubtful and exceptionable to a man who wants a relish for polite learning and they are those which a sour undistinguishing critic generally attacks with the greatest violence.
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Our sight is the most perfect and most delightful of all our senses.
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Quick sensitivity is inseperable from a ready understanding.
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