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...Covetousness, looking more at what we would have than at what we have.

Joseph Hall

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Joseph Hall
Age: 82 †
Born: 1574
Born: July 1
Died: 1656
Died: September 8
Clergyman
Poet
Priest
Writer
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Leicestershire
Looking
Would
Covetousness
Gratitude

More quotes by Joseph Hall

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Christian society is like a bundle of sticks laid together, whereof one kindles another. Solitary men have fewest provocations to evil, but, again, fewest incitations to good. So much as doing good is better than not doing evil will I account Christian good-fellowship better than an hermitish and melancholy solitariness.
Joseph Hall
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We are often infinitely mistaken, and take the falsest measures, when we envy the happiness of rich and great men we know not the inward canker that eats out all their joy and delight, and makes them really much more miserable than ourselves.
Joseph Hall
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Virtues go ever in troops they go so thick, that sometimes some are hid in the crowd which yet are, but appear not.
Joseph Hall
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I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.
Joseph Hall
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He that taketh his own cares upon himself loads himself in vain with an uneasy burden. I will cast all my cares on God He hath bidden me they cannot burden Him.
Joseph Hall
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Neutrality in things good or evil is both odious and prejudicial but in matters of an indifferent nature is safe and commendable. Herein taking of parts maketh sides, and breaketh unity. In an unjust cause of separation, he that favoreth both parts may perhaps have least love of either side, but hath most charity in himself.
Joseph Hall
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Not to be afflicted is a sign of weakness for, therefore God imposeth no more on me, because He sees I can bear no more.
Joseph Hall
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How easy it is for men to be swollen with admiration of their own strength and glory, and to be lifted up so high as to lose sight both of the ground whence they rose, and the hand that advanced them.
Joseph Hall
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God loves to see his creatures happy our lawful delight is His they know not God that think to please Him with making themselves miserable. The idolaters thought it a fit service for Baal to cut and lance themselves never any holy man looked for thanks from the true God by wronging himself.
Joseph Hall
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Good prayers never come creeping home. I am sure I shall receive either what I ask, or what I should ask.
Joseph Hall
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Society is the atmosphere of souls and we necessarily imbibe from it something which is either infectious or healthful.
Joseph Hall
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Tranquillity consisteth in a steadiness of the mind and how can that vessel that is beaten upon by contrary waves and winds, and tottereth to either part, be said to keep a steady course? Resolution is the only mother of security.
Joseph Hall
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And, if I were so low that I accounted myself the worst of all, yet some would account themselves in worse case.
Joseph Hall
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Worldly ambition is founded on pride or envy, but emulation, or laudable ambition, is actually founded in humility for it evidently implies that we have a low opinion of our present attainments, and think it necessary to be advanced.
Joseph Hall
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Heaven hath many tongues to talk of it, more eyes to behold it, but few hearts that rightly affect it.
Joseph Hall
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Death did not first strike Adam, the first sinful man, nor Cain, the first hypocrite, but Abel, the innocent and righteous. The first soul that met with death, overcame death the first soul that parted from earth went to heaven. Death argues not displeasure, because he whom God loved best dies first, and the murderer is punished with living.
Joseph Hall
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As you see in a pair of bellows, there is a forced breath without life, so in those that are puffed up with the wind of ostentation, there may be charitable words without works.
Joseph Hall
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There is no enemy can hurt us but by our own hands. Satan could not hurt us, if our own corruption betrayed us not. Afflictions cannot hurt us without our own impatience. Temptations cannot hurt us, without our own yieldance. Death could not hurt us, without the sting of our own sins. Sins could not hurt us, without our own impenitence.
Joseph Hall
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Recreation is intended to the mind as whetting is to the scythe, to sharpen the edge of it, which otherwise would grow dull and blunt,--as good no scythe as no edge.
Joseph Hall
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[W]e all lie down in our bed of earth as sure to wake as ever we can be to shut our eyes.
Joseph Hall