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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.

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
Desire
Stone
Doe
Philosopher
Banishing
Thing
Measure
Ascribes
Stones
Alchemist
Usually
Produces
Effects
Contentment
Produce
Calls
Bring
Riches

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The head has the most beautiful appearance, as well as the highest station, in a human figure.
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I have often reflected within myself on this unaccountable humor in womankind of being smitten with everything that is showy and superficial, and on the numberless evils that befall the sex from this light fantastical disposition.
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Quick sensitivity is inseperable from a ready understanding.
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The Mind that lies fallow but a single Day, sprouts up in Follies that are only to be killed by a constant and assiduous Culture.
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Music can noble hints impart, Engender fury, kindle love, With unsuspected eloquence can move, And manage all the man with secret art.
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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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Waning moons their settled periods keep, to swell the billows and ferment the deep.
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It is impossible for authors to discover beauties in one another's works they have eyes only for spots and blemishes.
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There is nothing more requisite in business than despatch.
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Our friends don't see our faults, or conceal them, or soften them.
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O ye powers that search The heart of man, and weigh his inmost thoughts, If I have done amiss, impute it not! The best may err, but you are good.
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Mysterious love, uncertain treasure, hast thou more of pain or pleasure! Endless torments dwell about thee: Yet who would live, and live without thee!
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The ways of heaven are dark and intricate, Puzzled in mazes, and perplex'd with errors Our understanding traces them in vain, Lost and bewilder'd in the fruitless search Nor sees with how much art the windings run, Nor where the regular confusion ends.
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Those Marriages generally abound most with Love and Constancy, that are preceded by a long Courtship.
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The fear of death often proves mortal, and sets people on methods to save their Lives, which infallibly destroy them.
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When I read the several dates of the tombs, of some that died yesterday, and some six hundred years ago, I consider that great day when we shall all of us be contemporaries, and make our appearance together.
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Some virtues are only seen in affliction and others only in prosperity.
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Husband a lie, and trump it up in some extraordinary emergency.
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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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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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