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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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Joseph Hall
Age: 82 †
Born: 1574
Born: July 1
Died: 1656
Died: September 8
Clergyman
Poet
Priest
Writer
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Leicestershire
Actually
Envy
Laudable
Think
Lows
Emulation
Thinking
Humility
Evidently
Ambition
Attainment
Necessary
Implies
Pride
Advanced
Present
Founded
Opinion
Worldly
Attainments

More quotes by 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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Let me know myself let others guess at me.
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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Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.
Joseph Hall
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Our good purposes foreslowed are become our tormentors upon our deathbed.
Joseph Hall
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...Covetousness, looking more at what we would have than at what we have.
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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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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It is a shame for the tongue to cast itself upon the uncertain pardon of other's ears
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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The life of doctrine is in application.
Joseph Hall
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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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There would not be so many open mouths if there were not so many open ears.
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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Even the best things ill used become evils and, contrarily, the worst things used well prove good.
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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Nothing fools people as much as extreme passion.
Joseph Hall
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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.
Joseph Hall
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For whom he means to make an often guest, One dish shall serve and welcome make the rest.
Joseph Hall
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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.
Joseph Hall