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

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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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[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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Virtues go ever in troops they go so thick, that sometimes some are hid in the crowd which yet are, but appear not.
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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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Heaven hath many tongues to talk of it, more eyes to behold it, but few hearts that rightly affect it.
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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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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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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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There would not be so many open mouths if there were not so many open ears.
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Revenge commonly hurts both the offerer and sufferer as we see in a foolish bee, which in her anger invenometh the flesh and loseth her sting, and so lives a drone ever after.
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A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.
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...Covetousness, looking more at what we would have than at what we have.
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Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.
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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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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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Mark in what order: first, our calling then, our election not beginning with our election first. By our calling, arguing our election.
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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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The blood that is once inflamed with wine is apt to boil with rage.
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I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together.
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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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