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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

More quotes by 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.
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Let me know myself let others guess at me.
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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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Good prayers never come creeping home. I am sure I shall receive either what I ask, or what I should ask.
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I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together. The sun, rising and declining, makes long shadows at mid day, when he is highest, none at all.
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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.
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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.
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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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[W]e all lie down in our bed of earth as sure to wake as ever we can be to shut our eyes.
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I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.
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Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.
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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.
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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.
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A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.
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There is many a rich stone laid up in the bowels of the earth, many a fair pearl laid up in the bosom of the sea, that never was seen, nor never shall be.
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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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Seldom was any knowledge given to keep, but to impart the grace of this rich jewel is lost in concealment.
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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.
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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.
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I first adventure, follow me who list And be the second English satirist
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