Quote

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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Joseph Hall
Age: 82 †
Born: 1574
Born: July 1
Died: 1656
Died: September 8
Clergyman
Poet
Priest
Writer
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Leicestershire
Would
Edge
Dull
Edges
Scythes
Otherwise
Scythe
Grow
Sharpen
Grows
Blunt
Mind
Recreation
Good
Intended

More quotes by Joseph Hall

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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.
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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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[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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Seldom was any knowledge given to keep, but to impart the grace of this rich jewel is lost in concealment.
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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 life of doctrine is in application.
Joseph Hall
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Let me know myself let others guess at me.
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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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It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most on Divine truth, that will prove the choicest, wisest, strongest Christian.
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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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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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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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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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Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.
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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Nothing fools people as much as extreme passion.
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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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 would not be so many open mouths if there were not so many open ears.
Joseph Hall
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A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.
Joseph Hall