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
Mind
Recreation
Good
Intended
Would
Edge
Dull
Edges
Scythes
Otherwise
Scythe
Grow
Sharpen
Grows
Blunt

More quotes by 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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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.
Joseph Hall
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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.
Joseph Hall
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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.
Joseph Hall
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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.
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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Seldom was any knowledge given to keep, but to impart the grace of this rich jewel is lost in concealment.
Joseph Hall
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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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[W]e all lie down in our bed of earth as sure to wake as ever we can be to shut our eyes.
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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Heaven hath many tongues to talk of it, more eyes to behold it, but few hearts that rightly affect it.
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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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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For whom he means to make an often guest, One dish shall serve and welcome make the rest.
Joseph Hall
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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
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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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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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Even the best things ill used become evils and, contrarily, the worst things used well prove good.
Joseph Hall
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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.
Joseph Hall
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...Covetousness, looking more at what we would have than at what we have.
Joseph Hall