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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.
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
Greatest
Owners
Polyphemus
Eyes
Exposed
Stature
Eye
Account
Discretion
May
Accounts
Owner
Without
Enormous
Fatal
Parts
Observed
Strength
Deprived
Writer
Elegant
More quotes by Joseph Addison
It is indeed very possible, that the Persons we laugh at may in the main of their Characters be much wiser Men than our selves but if they would have us laugh at them, they must fall short of us in those Respects which stir up this Passion.
Joseph Addison
Of all the diversions of life, there is none so proper to fill up its empty spaces as the reading of useful and entertaining authors.
Joseph Addison
Physic is, for the most part, only a substitute for temperance and exercise.
Joseph Addison
Friendships, in general, are suddenly contracted and therefore it is no wonder they are easily dissolved.
Joseph Addison
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
The important question is not, what will yield to man a few scattered pleasures, but what will render his life happy on the whole amount.
Joseph Addison
The Fear of Death often proves Mortal.
Joseph Addison
A misery is not to be measure from the nature of the evil but from the temper of the sufferer.
Joseph Addison
Learning, like traveling and all other methods of improvement, as it finishes good sense, so it makes a silly man ten thousand times more insufferable by supplying variety of matter to his impertinence, and giving him an opportunity of abounding in absurdities.
Joseph Addison
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.
Joseph Addison
The first race of mankind used to dispute, as our ordinary people do now-a-days, in a kind of wild logic, uncultivated by rule of art.
Joseph Addison
The jealous man's disease is of so malignant a nature, that it converts all it takes into its own nourishment.
Joseph Addison
A great large book is a great evil.
Joseph Addison
Our friends don't see our faults, or conceal them, or soften them.
Joseph Addison
Dependence is a perpetual call upon humanity, and a greater incitement to tenderness and pity than any other motive whatever.
Joseph Addison
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.
Joseph Addison
Good nature will always supply the absence of beauty but beauty cannot supply the absence of good nature.
Joseph Addison
Life is not long enough for a coquette to play all her tricks in.
Joseph Addison
True fortitude is seen in great exploits That justice warrants, and that wisdom guides And all else is tow'ring phrenzy and distraction.
Joseph Addison
It is wonderful to see persons of sense passing away a dozen hours together in shuffling and dividing a pack of cards.
Joseph Addison