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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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Joseph Hall
Age: 82 †
Born: 1574
Born: July 1
Died: 1656
Died: September 8
Clergyman
Poet
Priest
Writer
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Leicestershire
Much
Delight
Canker
Really
Joy
Eats
Men
Rich
Measures
Happiness
Infinitely
Often
Mistaken
Makes
Inward
Take
Envy
Great
Miserable

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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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It is a shame for the tongue to cast itself upon the uncertain pardon of other's ears
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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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The blood that is once inflamed with wine is apt to boil with rage.
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Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.
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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.
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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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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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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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For whom he means to make an often guest, One dish shall serve and welcome make the rest.
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The life of doctrine is in application.
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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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Rich people should consider that they are only trustees for what they posses, and should show their wealth to be more in doing good than merely in having it.
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...Covetousness, looking more at what we would have than at what we have.
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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.
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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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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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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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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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Society is the atmosphere of souls and we necessarily imbibe from it something which is either infectious or healthful.
Joseph Hall