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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Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl chain of all virtues.
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.
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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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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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There would not be so many open mouths if there were not so many open ears.
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.
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Nothing fools people as much as extreme passion.
Joseph Hall
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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.
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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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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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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Let me know myself let others guess at me.
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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A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.
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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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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The blood that is once inflamed with wine is apt to boil with rage.
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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Mark in what order: first, our calling then, our election not beginning with our election first. By our calling, arguing our election.
Joseph Hall
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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.
Joseph Hall