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The idle man is the Devil's cushion, on which he taketh his free ease: who, as he is uncapable of any good, so he is fitly disposed for all evil motions.

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
Evil
Cushions
Good
Motions
Men
Disposed
Laziness
Idle
Ease
Devil
Fitly
Free
Cushion

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Nothing fools people as much as extreme passion.
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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.
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I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The ear and the eye are the mind's receivers but the tongue is only busy in expending the treasures received. It, therefore, the revenues of the mind be uttered as fast or faster than they are received, it must needs be bare, and can never lay up for purchase.
Joseph Hall
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The proud man hath no God the envious man hath no neighbor the angry man hath not himself.
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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.
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There would not be so many open mouths if there were not so many open ears.
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Let me know myself let others guess at me.
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Mark in what order: first, our calling then, our election not beginning with our election first. By our calling, arguing our election.
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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.
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For whom he means to make an often guest, One dish shall serve and welcome make the rest.
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Even the best things ill used become evils and, contrarily, the worst things used well prove good.
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Society is the atmosphere of souls and we necessarily imbibe from it something which is either infectious or healthful.
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Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.
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This field is so spacious that it were easy for a man to lose himself in it and if I should spend all my pilgrimage in this walk, my time would sooner end than my way.
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A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.
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The blood that is once inflamed with wine is apt to boil with rage.
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